Full disclosure—my parent company used to publish Vines magazine, a national wine publication edited by noted Canadian wine writer Chris Waters, now the wine and spirits columnist at The Globe and Mail, among other duties.

Vines isn’t around anymore. While much of the world’s print media has experienced a premature demise due to the onset of the digital age, Vines, like others in its genre, really never had a chance.

That particular genre is the Ontario food and beverage industry, where we currently have a 600-pound gorilla dominating the spot—the LCBO’s Food & Drink.

It’s awesome! Beautiful production values, top-shelf photography, great writing. And the new edition is a whopping 286 pages of all things alcohol and food as we celebrate the holiday season!

You should be very proud.

Because you’re paying for it.

Every time I see this magazine it’s a reminder of how Ontario taxpayers are subsidizing a publication that’s singularly preventing any possible publishing competition in the wine and spirits field in this province—waters that many would love to wade into. Food & Drink’s ad costs and subscription rates are ridiculously low, given the circulation and the production/printing costs, thereby discouraging any start-up from daring to compete.

Ever wonder why there’s no Canadian equivalent to Wine Spectator, Decanter or Bon Appétit in Ontario? Well here you have it.