LISTOWEL – “I know some people might think negatively of this initiative, but I think we can treat adults like adults,” Coun. Marc Noordam said regarding the province’s bring-you-own-alcohol regulations under the Liquor Licence and Control Act.
In March 2026, the Province of Ontario announced amendments to the Liquor Licence and Control Act, expanding “bring-your-own” alcohol (BYOA) permits for outdoor public events. Effective April 30, 2026, event organizers may apply to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for permits allowing attendees aged 19 and older to bring and consume their own alcohol at designated outdoor events.
According to North Perth’s Clerk/Legislative Services Supervisor, Lindsay Cline, eligible events must be publicly accessible, held outdoors at ground level and either designated by a municipal council or its delegate as a cultural or community event or held in connection with and in proximity to a professional, semi-professional, or post-secondary sporting event.
She added that municipal participation is optional.
“However, municipalities wishing to participate must establish a local process for designating eligible cultural and community events and provide confirmation of the designation to event organizers for submission to the AGCO,” Cline wrote in the report.
Noordam called the incentive “interesting” and requested North Perth staff take “A little bit of a deeper look into it.”
“At first, this initiative was more towards sporting events, but it could be more for public events, such as farmers’ markets, arts and crafts shows, neighbourhood festivals, public performances, and this is up to local municipalities to decide if they want to take part in this program,” Noordam said.
“I come from a European background, and it’s kind of a night-and-day difference across the pond, how we treat alcohol. I think this is kind of an interesting idea from the provincial government. I would like to see some options from staff in a later report on this.”
Cline responded, saying her report to council outlined some of the concerns associated with this amendment.
“We have had some preliminary internal meetings regarding this new legislation, and we have also conversed with some of our community partners, like public health, and that we do have some concerns that are outlined in the staff report, related to, you know, public safety, risk management, liability for the municipality … but we’d be happy to bring back a report with outlining recommendations for implementation, if council wishes to direct us to do so.”
It was also previously reported that the Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Miriam Klassen has asked municipalities to assess local risks.
“We encourage municipalities to assess local risks, potential impact on local resources, community priorities and equity impacts to help ensure public spaces remain safe and healthy for all,” Klassen said at an April HPPH meeting.
“We have created an alcohol primer for municipalities, which we’ve shared within the last year and a half,” HPPH Physician Consultant Dr. Lauren Hayward added. “This is nuanced, obviously, with BYO to an event. We do have a strategy within the health unit – our municipal strategy – where we have contact with municipalities, so we can come together and work on a project and assist the municipality in defining, creating or suggesting … we have those lines of communication open.”
North Perth ultimately decided to request a report from staff about how the municipality could move forward with this.
-With files from Nicole Beswitherick.
By Kelsey Bent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jun 19, 2026 at 07:00
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