Open Call for Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is launching an open call for programs. Interested entities can apply for approval of their liquor retail employee training program to support Ontario's plans for an expanded liquor retail marketplace.

The AGCO is accepting applications until the AGCO Board decides to end the open call.

Applications submitted before June 24, 2024 will be prioritized for consideration. Applications submitted on or after June 24, 2024 may not be considered.


Application Process   

To apply, please follow these 5 steps:  

Step 1: Review the Application Guide. Before submitting your application, please review the application materials available on the portal. The Application Guide will provide all the information required to apply, including key dates, application requirements, evaluation criteria, as well as the selection and approval process.

Step 2: Develop your training program. Prospective applicants will be asked to complete the Application Package, as well as submit a fully developed retail training program that is ready for launch.

Step 3: Submit your application. Applications submitted before June 24, 2024 will be prioritized in the AGCO’s initial round of evaluation and approval of training programs. The AGCO will continue to accept applications until the AGCO Board determines the open call to be closed. Additional evaluation and approval of applications submitted on or after June 24, 2024, will be at the discretion of the Board. When you're ready to submit your application, you can do so through this online portal. Please double-check that all the required information has been included before submitting. 

Step 4: Wait for a response. The AGCO will carefully assess all information provided. For applications submitted by 11:59 PM ET on June 23, 2024, successful and unsuccessful applicants can expect to be notified of the Board’s decision by mid-July 2024.

Step 5: Announcement of Approved Programs. The AGCO will communicate the selection of Board-approved training programs in mid-July 2024.


Should you experience any issues with the application portal, please email connect@agco.ca.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is launching an open call for programs. Interested entities can apply for approval of their liquor retail employee training program to support Ontario's plans for an expanded liquor retail marketplace.

The AGCO is accepting applications until the AGCO Board decides to end the open call.

Applications submitted before June 24, 2024 will be prioritized for consideration. Applications submitted on or after June 24, 2024 may not be considered.


Application Process   

To apply, please follow these 5 steps:  

Step 1: Review the Application Guide. Before submitting your application, please review the application materials available on the portal. The Application Guide will provide all the information required to apply, including key dates, application requirements, evaluation criteria, as well as the selection and approval process.

Step 2: Develop your training program. Prospective applicants will be asked to complete the Application Package, as well as submit a fully developed retail training program that is ready for launch.

Step 3: Submit your application. Applications submitted before June 24, 2024 will be prioritized in the AGCO’s initial round of evaluation and approval of training programs. The AGCO will continue to accept applications until the AGCO Board determines the open call to be closed. Additional evaluation and approval of applications submitted on or after June 24, 2024, will be at the discretion of the Board. When you're ready to submit your application, you can do so through this online portal. Please double-check that all the required information has been included before submitting. 

Step 4: Wait for a response. The AGCO will carefully assess all information provided. For applications submitted by 11:59 PM ET on June 23, 2024, successful and unsuccessful applicants can expect to be notified of the Board’s decision by mid-July 2024.

Step 5: Announcement of Approved Programs. The AGCO will communicate the selection of Board-approved training programs in mid-July 2024.


Should you experience any issues with the application portal, please email connect@agco.ca.

Ask the AGCO

Please submit any questions below and a member from the Open Call for Applications project team will get back to you as soon as possible. 

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  • Do employees or individuals who provide liquor samples need to complete a responsible liquor sales/service training program?

    5 months ago

    The Registrar’s Interim Standards and Requirements for Liquor(External link) (Interim Standards) legally require that licensees must ensure that the following persons hold a valid certificate demonstrating successful completion of a training course approved by the Board of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO):

    • Every person involved in the sale, service, sampling or delivery of liquor or in taking orders for the sale of liquor;
    • Security staff employed by the licensee or used by stadiums; and  
    • Employees selling or serving liquor from motorized vending carts, as well as course marshals, for Golf Course Endorsement holders. 

    It is recommended for all liquor licensees to keep a copy of their and their employees’ certifications. AGCO Inspectors may ask a licensee for proof of a staff member’s certification at any time. 

    (Note that sampling is not an authorized action for convenience stores under Ontario Regulation (External link)746/21(External link) (see section 72 for Authorized actions for convenience store licences) under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA)(External link).)

  • Are there display requirements for alcohol that is sold in convenience stores?

    5 months ago

    Product display requirements are set out in section 89 of O. Reg. 746/21: LICENSING (ontario.ca)(External link) under the the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA)(External link).

  • Is there a maximum percentage of the retail floor space that can be dedicated to alcohol sales in a convenience store?

    6 months ago

      As defined in Ontario Regulation 746/21(External link) under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA)(External link), a  “convenience store” means a store,

    (a)  that consists of no more than 4,000 square feet of retail floor space,

    (b)  in which food products offered for retail sale, excluding prepared food products that may be consumed on site, occupy at least half of the retail floor space,

    (c)  that offers a variety of at least five of the following types of food products for in-person retail sale, other than prepared food products that may be consumed on site:

    (i)  canned food,

    (ii)  dry food,

    (iii)  frozen food,

    (iv)  fresh fruits,

    (v)  fresh vegetables,

    (vi)  meat or meat alternatives,

    (vii)  dairy or dairy alternatives,

    (viii)  non-alcoholic beverages,

    (ix)  baked goods, and

    (x)  snack foods, and

    (d)  that is not primarily identified to the public as a pharmacy, even if a pharmacy as defined in the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act is located within the store

    Section 85 of the Regulation(External link) requires licensees to ensure that their stores continue to be a grocery store or convenience store, as the case may be, within the meaning of this Regulation. Noting that liquor sold at the grocery store or convenience store is not considered to  be a food productat least 50% of the retail floor space must be allocated to food products.

  • Can alcohol be delivered from convenience stores and if so, are food items required?

    6 months ago

    As set out in Ontario Regulation 746/21(External link) under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA)(External link), a convenience store licence authorizes the licensee to deliver liquor for a fee from the convenience store. If the liquor is ordered online in accordance with subsection 88(2)(External link), the licensee may deliver the liquor to the customer in accordance with the general conditions for liquor delivery set out in section 10(External link) of Regulation 746/21. There is no requirement for food items to accompany liquor delivered from a convenience store.

  • Is sampling of liquor products permitted in convenience stores?

    6 months ago

    No. Sampling is not an authorized action for convenience stores under Ontario Regulation 746/21(External link) (see section 72 for Authorized actions for convenience store licences) under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA)(External link).

Page last updated: 10 Jun 2024, 01:30 PM