Don't raise a glass just yet, but Toronto city council has voted 18-8 to ask the province to allow restaurants to sell alcohol starting at 9 a.m. on weekends--two hours earlier than is permitted now.
"It's a fairness issue for me," said councillor Paula Fletcher during Tuesday's debate.
Fletcher wants to see the hours restaurants and diners can sell alcohol more closely match when the LCBO, Beer Store and grocery stores can do the same. In December, Ontario alcohol retailers were given permission to sell booze from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week
"It just seems very unfair that small businesses, small restaurants serving brunch on the weekend can't take advantage of an earlier time," Fletcher said.
The mayor agrees that rules ought to be changed.
"If I can go at 9:30 on a Sunday morning and buy a bottle of champagne and buy a carton of orange juice at the convenience store next door and mix myself up a mimosa, it really is putting at a disadvantage people who work terribly hard and are open on Sunday mornings...and they can't serve this drink to people who might want it."
Council's request will be sent to Ontario's Attorney General and Alcohol and Gaming Commission. NEWSTALK 1010 has reached out to Caroline Mulroney's office to see if she's inclined to grant Toronto's wish.