A civil war has erupted in Canada over a bottle of whisky. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has sparked a diplomatic incident with neighboring Manitoba by pouring a bottle of Crown Royal into the sewer on live TV, protesting the distiller’s decision to move jobs to the US.

Diageo, the British owner of the iconic Canadian brand, plans to close its Amherstburg plant in Ontario. In retaliation, Ford has ordered the removal of the drink from provincial liquor stores. The move has infuriated Manitoba, where Crown Royal is distilled in the town of Gimli, employing hundreds.

"Dumb as a Bag of Hammers"

Ford called the company owners "dumb as a bag of hammers" for abandoning Canadian workers. However, his boycott threatens jobs in Manitoba, testing the "Team Canada" unity needed to face US trade tariffs. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has urged Ford to "do a 180," arguing that hurting a Canadian product to spite a foreign owner is cutting off one’s nose to spite the face.