Latest news with #KarinSchnarr
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Ontario brewery loses liquor licence after owner charged with drug trafficking
An eastern Ontario brewery has found itself in trouble after the owner was charged with drug trafficking. The Longtooth Beverage Company, located at 429 West Front St., in Stirling, Ont., had its liquor licence suspended by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) after the owner was charged with trafficking cocaine and other drugs. 'Illicit drug trafficking directly undermines public safety and the AGCO will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to combat criminal activity wherever it is identified,' Karin Schnarr, the commission's CEO, said in a statement. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy On July 30, Ontario Provincial Police executed several search warrants at residences on Whites Road in Quinte West and West Front Street in Stirling, as well as a business on West Front Street and associated vehicles. Police say three people were arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Officers seized cocaine, a quantity of suspected LSD and psilocybin pills. Story continues below advertisement Among those charged is the owner and sole proprietor of the brewery. The commission said the licence suspension at the Longtooth Beverage Company is in response to the charges against the owner for his alleged role in a drug trafficking operation. The commission says under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, it has the ability to immediately suspend a liquor licence when it is considered in the public interest. The suspension is effective as of Aug. 14.
Arabian Post
28-06-2025
- Arabian Post
Toronto Casino Slapped with $350,000 Fine
A north‑Toronto casino has been hit with a $350,000 penalty after permitting an unscheduled after‑party on its gaming floor without proper risk assessment or controls. Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commission determined that the event violated multiple standards, exposing patrons to safety hazards and operational lapses. On 27 September 2024, an electronic dance music event held in the adjacent theatre overflowed into the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The artist and more than 400 guests were allowed onto the active gaming floor for an impromptu performance, mingling with table games and slot machines. The AGCO noted widespread intoxication, disorderly behaviour and several serious incidents including alleged assaults, drug overdoses and acts of public indecency, which prompted the need for additional police and emergency services beyond those initially engaged. Casino security struggled to manage the crowd, and eyewitnesses reported at least one person climbing onto a slot machine—a clear indicator of inadequate control. Furthermore, the operator failed to report the disturbances and non‑compliance to the AGCO in a timely manner, breaching mandatory notification protocols. ADVERTISEMENT The $350,000 penalty addresses core areas of regulatory failure, including incident reporting, employee training, and disturbance management. The breakdown of fines under specific AGCO standards totals $350,000: $125,000 for failure in incident reporting, $100,000 for insufficient staff training, and $125,000 for inadequate removal of disruptive individuals. Dr Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO, emphasised that casino operators bear 'a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment,' and that the breaches in this case 'compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor'. This disciplinary action follows two other fines earlier in the year involving the same casino. In April, a fine of $120,000 was imposed over alleged dealer‑patron cheating, followed by a $51,000 penalty in May for permitting under‑age gambling. The cumulative $521,000 in penalties has placed significant pressure on the casino's compliance operations. In response to the latest ruling, a casino spokesperson stated that they 'respect the AGCO's decision and fully acknowledge its role in setting and enforcing the standards that guide the gaming industry in Ontario.' The spokesperson confirmed steps have been taken to 'impose multiple compliance safeguards' and that the organisation remains 'firmly committed to the highest standards of accountability'. The operator has 15 days to appeal the penalty to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent adjudicator under Tribunals Ontario. The episode highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of casino operations in Ontario, where the AGCO has intensified enforcement around compliance, security, and patron safety. Of particular concern is the practice of staging entertainment directly on gaming floors—a strategy that offers commercial benefits but raises questions about operational risk and regulatory compliance. While the casino industry in the province has embraced entertainment to attract patrons, regulators are signalling zero tolerance for activity that compromises the regulatory framework underpinning gambling operations. This incident, alongside recent penalties, marks a sharper enforcement posture aimed at reinforcing the integrity and safety of gaming venues. The casino's upcoming appeal will be closely watched, not just by local operators, but by industry stakeholders across the province. The outcome may determine whether the AGCO's heightened enforcement approach becomes a sustained trend or remains an isolated intervention.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Wine and spirits company fined $40K for paying Ontario retail stores to promote its products
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Investigation and Enforcement Bureau at the Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands in Gananoque, Ont. on Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg A wine and spirits company has been ordered to pay a $40,000 for paying retail stores to promote their products, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says. In November, the AGCO began investigating concerns that Mark Anthony Group Inc. was 'unfairly promoting its products in Ontario.' In a news release on Wednesday, the AGCO said that the investigation has since confirmed that a marketing firm working on behalf of the company paid more than 130 retailers up to $225 per store to display posters promoting their brands. The AGCO says that the stores were also encouraged to purchase and stock higher volumes of the products featured in the posters. 'The AGCO is committed to maintaining a fair and competitive alcohol market. Undisclosed financial incentives corrupt market integrity and are a clear violation of Ontario's regulations,' AGCO CEO and Registrar Karin Schnarr said in the news release. 'This penalty sends a firm message: we will hold all licence holders accountable for compliance and ensure that small, independent producers have the opportunity to succeed in Ontario.' The AGCO says that provincial legislation 'explicitly' prohibits licensees and their representatives 'from offering financial benefits or inducements to retailers in order to increase the sales or availability of a brand of alcohol.'
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AGCO Fines Wine Maker Mark Anthony Group Inc. $40,000 for undisclosed payments to retailers meant to influence sales
TORONTO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) today announced that it has ordered a $40,000 monetary penalty against alcohol manufacturer Mark Anthony Group Inc. for illegally paying retail stores to promote their products and influence alcohol sales. In November 2024, the AGCO launched an investigation into concerns that Mark Anthony Wines had been unfairly promoting its products in Ontario. The investigation confirmed that, through a marketing firm, the company had paid more than 130 retailers up to $225 per store to display posters promoting their brands. These stores were also encouraged to purchase and stock higher volumes of the products featured in the promotions. Under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) and its Regulations, licensees and their representatives are explicitly prohibited from offering financial benefits or inducements to retailers in order to increase the sales or availability of a brand of alcohol. This practice creates an unfair advantage that disproportionately benefits large multinational corporations with greater financial resources at the expense of smaller local and independent companies. More importantly, it unfairly influences what products are stocked and promoted, potentially limiting consumer choice and compromising the transparency essential for a healthy, competitive market. The AGCO is committed to ensuring that alcohol sales are conducted fairly and transparently for the benefit of all Ontarians. Operators served with an OMP by the AGCO Registrar have the right to appeal the Registrar's decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO. Quote 'The AGCO is committed to maintaining a fair and competitive alcohol market. Undisclosed financial incentives corrupt market integrity and are a clear violation of Ontario's regulations. This penalty sends a firm message: we will hold all licence holders accountable for compliance and ensure that small, independent producers have the opportunity to succeed in Ontario.' – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO Additional Information Contrary to subsection 132(1) of Ontario Regulation 746/21 made under LLCA ($40,000 penalty): The licensee directly or indirectly offered or gave a material financial or other benefit to a holder of a licence or permit under the Act, or to a person acting on behalf of that licence or permit holder, for the purpose of increasing the sale or availability of a brand of liquor. Media contact AGCO Media media@ About the AGCO The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is an Ontario provincial regulatory agency reporting to the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG). It is a corporation under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act, 2019 .Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
23-06-2025
- CTV News
St. Catharines nightclub loses liquor licence following April shooting
A St. Catharines nightclub that was the site of a shooting that wounded a 16-year-old in April has had its liquor licence suspended. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says that it has issued an order to temporarily suspend the liquor licence belonging to Club 88 and to begin the process of permanently revoking the licenced. The decision comes after an April 27 shooting inside the club that left a 16-year-old Ajax boy with non-life threatening injuries. The AGCO said that while police have since made criminal arrests in connection with the shooting, it has been in the process of conducting its own 'regulatory investigation.' In a news release, the AGCO said that 'despite repeated attempts to confirm the identities of those involved in the club's ownership and operations, investigators encountered a prolonged pattern of inconsistent and contradictory information.' The release notes that the suspension of the club's licence is necessary 'to protect the public interest and compel accountability.: 'Honesty and transparency are absolute requirements for those who hold a liquor licence in Ontario. When ownership is hidden, accountability disappears, putting public safety at risk. We will always act decisively to uphold the integrity of licensees and protect Ontarians,' the AGCO's Chief Executive Officer and Registrar Karin Schnarr said in the release.
