How to file an objection in response to a Liquor Sales Licence application

Public Notice

When someone applies for a new liquor sales licence or to add a licensed area to an existing liquor licence, the AGCO will post a public notice in iAGCO and provide the applicant with a placard to post at the premises.

This public notice (placard) offers residents in the municipality an opportunity to respond to the application and to voice any concerns or objections to the application within the time period set as advertised and posted on the placard.

How to file an objection in response to a Liquor Sales Licence application

All active applications for a Liquor Sales Licence are available to view on the iAGCO online portal.

After a Liquor Sales Licence application is submitted, the AGCO will determine the dates of the posting period and will email the public notice placard to the applicant, who is responsible for printing and posting it visibly on the front of their place of business. 

Anyone can review these notices (placards) during the posting period by using the search tool in iAGCO. You do not need an iAGCO account to use this feature. Here are the steps for locating a notice and filing a written submission:

  1. Click on the “iAGCO Online Services” button located at the top of any page on www.agco.ca.

  1. Choose “Search” for current liquor and cannabis applications.

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  1. In the search screen:
    • Under Category – use the drop-down menu to select Liquor

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  • Under Type – use the drop-down menu to select Liquor Sales Licence

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  • If you know a specific File Number, Premises Name, Premises Address, or Applicant name, you can narrow down your search by entering them in the applicable fields. You can also leave all of those fields blank to perform a general search for all active applications.
  • Click on the “Search” button to begin your search.
  • Click on File Objection/Submission button
  • You will be required to provide your Name, Contact Information, Address and concerns specific to the location. You will have the option to include documents to support your submission
  • Click submit

Note : Objections submitted anonymously will not be considered and will not be included in the public objection process.

Objections

Under the Public Notice Process, objections about a Liquor Sales Licence application can only be made to the Registrar by:

  • A resident of the municipality in which the proposed premises is located;
  • The municipality representing the area in which the proposed premises is located. If the municipality is a lower-tier municipality, then the upper-tier municipality of which it forms a part may also make a submission.

If the AGCO receives a written objection to the issuance of a liquor sales licence by the date indicated on the placard, and it is determined by the Registrar that the objection is not frivolous or vexatious, then a decision will be made to either first set up a public meeting at the AGCO or issue a Notice of Proposal to Review the Licence Application which can be appealed to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT).

The applicant will be notified of the objections and will be given copies of the letters of objection. This gives the applicant an opportunity to work with objectors to address their concerns.

For more information on the Public Notice and Submissions process, consult the General Information: Objecting to a Liquor Sales Licence Application web page.

Subscribe to Applications Undergoing Public Notice

Click here to sign up to receive emails with updates of new applications undergoing public notice. You can choose the types of applications and specify the locations you would like to subscribe to.

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