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The Ontario government is pushing ahead with a plan to put liquor kiosks in grocery stores, a bid to shake up the way alcohol is sold in the province and head off the champions of privatization ahead of a possible spring election.

The Liberals move also comes as the party casts about for any good news amid the gas-plant scandal, in which Premier Kathleen Wynne looks set for a legal showdown with Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and new revelations that the boyfriend of a Grit staffer was hired as an IT expert on the taxpayers dime.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa is expected to unveil a request for proposals Tuesday that will ask grocery stores to sign up to have an LCBO Express store placed in them, a government source said. The government will then select a handful of stores to receive the kiosks.

The tentative step toward liberalizing liquor sales does not go as far as Quebec, which has long allowed beer and wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.

Alberta has an entirely privatized liquor retail system and British Columbia, which has a hybrid model, is set to allow liquor in grocery stores in the near future.

The idea, first announced in 2012, follows several similar moves from the LCBO, which has in recent years put liquor stores adjacent to supermarkets. This, however, would be another step at mixing the government liquor monopoly with private retail. The kiosks will still be owned and run by the LCBO, but will occupy space in the middle of grocery stores.

Mr. Hudaks Tories have stirred the age-old privatization debate over the past year, putting out a policy paper that envisages selling off all or part of the LCBO. Proponents of privatization argue that introducing competition into the market would lead to more liquor stores, better selection and service. Alberta, for instance, has more than 1,100 liquor stores, only slightly fewer than the combined total of LCBOs and Beer Stores, in a province less than a third the size of Ontario. Unlike the LCBO, many of the prairie provinces liquor stores keep late hours.

The Liberals have repeatedly vowed not to privatize liquor sales in large part because of the money the LCBO funnels into government coffers.

With the Grits holding only a minority of seats in the legislature, they must secure the support of at least one other party to pass a budget and avoid a spring election. In the event of a vote, the promise of more accessible liquor may be a method to deflect the Tories privatization promises.

The kiosk announcement is also coming down unexpectedly after several days that saw Queens Park dominated by explosive developments in the gas-plant scandal. Last week, an unsealed police document revealed that investigators believe former premier Dalton McGuintys chief of staff brought in outside IT expert Peter Faist to wipe clean government computers.

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Ontario Liberals push forward with plan to sell liquor in grocery stores

CTV Montreal Published Tuesday, April 1, 2014 11:00AM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, April 1, 2014 12:33PM EDT

A Forum poll conducted on Monday indicates the Liberal party is the frontrunner with one week to go before the election.

According to the poll 41 percent of Quebecers support the Liberals, followed by the PQ at 29 percent, the CAQ at 19 percent and Quebec Solidaire with 7 percent.

Compared with the previous Forum poll, which was conducted on March 19, it shows Liberal and PQ supporters have been switching their allegiance to the Coalition Avenir Quebec.

The poll also includes a linguistic breakdown indicating that 39 percent of decided francophones support the Liberal party while only 30 percent prefer the PQ.

This is the only poll by any firm during the election campaign to show more francophones supporting the Liberals. Every other poll has shown around 40 percent of francophones prefer the PQ, with about 30 percent supporting the Liberal party.

The telephone poll surveyed 854 people on March 31, 2014. It has a margin of error of 3 percent, 19 times out of 20.

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Forum poll gives lead to Liberals, has bump for CAQ

Spencer Chandra Herbert asks why the Liberals support increasing tanker traffic on our coast

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Spencer Chandra Herbert asks why the Liberals support increasing tanker traffic on our coast - Video

The political appointment of Alexander Downer as Australia's high commissioner in London is justified because he's clearly the best man for the job, the head of the Liberal Party in the UK says.

Labor has hit out at the government's decision to move Mike Rann from the high-profile diplomatic post prematurely to make way for the Howard government minister.

Former South Australian Labor premier Mr Rann, whose term was not due to expire for another 18 months, will head to Rome as ambassador to Italy in May as part of a switch the opposition has branded 'blatantly political'.

But Australian Liberals Abroad president Jason Groves said on Monday having a high commissioner politically aligned with the government was in the nation's best interest.

Mr Groves claimed nobody was better qualified for the role than Mr Downer, Australia's longest-serving foreign minister.

'To have a high commissioner who is listened to and respected by the government of the day is very useful,' Mr Groves told AAP.

'Alexander Downer is someone who is incredibly well-connected in the UK already and someone who can hit the ground running.

'He has experience that's almost unparalleled by any other Australian in foreign affairs matters.

'With a lot of big issues going on in Europe at the moment, and with Australia's presidency of the G20, it's important having someone who is very familiar with all of these issues and able to talk to the British government with authority.'

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek called for Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to explain the 'abrupt' installation of Mr Downer while Labor MP Bernie Ripoll accused the government of delivering 'jobs for the boys'.

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Liberals defend Downer's appointment

The Parti Qubcois is attacking Liberal Leader Philippe Couillards loyalty to the province as the election campaign enters its final week, warning voters that electing their rival would mean a return to institutional bilingualism and the rise of religious fundamentalism.

He is truly a risk to our language and culture, PQ Leader Pauline Marois said Sunday. When he speaks about language it is [to] bilingualize Quebec . I believe Mr. Couillard, who changes his mind on just about everything and on what is fundamental to the Quebec nation: its identity, language, culture, history, isnt ready to govern Quebec.

After seeing renewed referendum talk push the Liberals into the lead, the PQ began to attack Mr. Couillard on his business dealings, but has now shifted the offensive to his willingness to defend Quebecs language and culture.

This time, Ms. Maroiss ammunition came from comments Mr. Couillard made during last Thursdays leaders debate, when he was asked why someone would need to speak English to work in a factory.

There are more and more jobs where it is important. You know very well. Even on factory floors, its becoming more and more important, Mr. Couillard said. Later in the debate he said: Bilingualism is not a threat. Knowledge of English is indispensable.

Then on Friday, while campaigning in Blainville, north of Montreal, Mr. Couillard explained the advantages of being bilingual: Its a great advantage for anyone to be bilingual. I know. This is something the pquistes dont want me to say, but Ill say it again: Theres not a single parent in Quebec that doesnt hope for their kids to be bilingual. Its such a fantastic asset in life. And it goes the other way, for English-speaking kids to be bilingual in French is a fantastic asset.

Mr. Couillard did not disavow these comments, but fought back on Sunday by vowing to safeguard the French language and saying he had no lessons to learn from the PQ about patriotism.

Ms. Marois was not alone in her attacks on the Liberal leader. Janette Bertrand, the 89-year old popular former TV host and defender of womens rights in the province, spoke Sunday at a PQ rally, saying that if the party is defeated in the April 7 election it will spell the end of the secular charter and the rise of religious fundamentalism. Ms. Bertrand called it a danger to Quebec society and that could lead to the erosion womens rights and jeopardize gender equality in the province.

If I am here today it is because we must vote for Ms. Marois, the Parti Qubcois because if we dont there will be no charter, Ms. Bertrand said.

Last fall, Ms. Bertrand founded a pro-charter group nicknamed Janettes along with Julie Snyder, the wife of media magnate and star PQ candidate Pierre Karl Pladeau. They recruited several other prominent figures in defending the secular charter to fight religious fundamentalism.

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Liberals Couillard a risk to our language and culture, Marois warns