Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop today visited The River Emporium in Severn Falls and Hawkestone General Store to officially open new Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) agency stores.

"I'm pleased that LCBO products and services are now available through agency stores in Severn Falls and Hawkestone," said Dunlop. "LCBO agency stores make beverage alcohol shopping more convenient for local residents, while bringing more revenue and increasing the overall business base in the communities they serve."

The LCBO authorizes agency stores to operate in communities where the local population is too small to support a regular LCBO store or Beer Store. The selection of communities to receive agency stores is based on the distance from the nearest LCBO or Beer Store location, population base and seasonal activities, community economic infrastructure, and availability of a suitable host retailer.

The LCBO Agency Store Program was established in 1962. To improve access to beverage alcohol products and services in smaller communities and rural areas, the Ontario government is currently expanding the program. As announced last September, up to 150 agency store locations will be created throughout the province.

"These two new agency stores are successful private/public sector partnerships that promote small business and encourage job creation," said Dunlop. "They also represent our government?s commitment to cost-effective, efficient and responsible expansion of the agency store program."

To qualify to operate an agency store, applicants must have an existing retail business in the community and commit to operating within established LCBO guidelines. Successful applicants are required to complete the same responsible server training as all LCBO retail employees.