Oh, Canada.
A member of Toronto city council isn't going to let a nine hour time difference between Sochi and Toronto get in his city's way of combining two Canadian traditions: hockey and beer.
With the finals of the men's ice hockey tournament scheduled for Sunday, February 23 at 7:00 AM EST, Councillor Mike Layton will put forward a motion next week that would allow bars and restaurants across the city to serve alcohol during the game.
According to current regulations, bars in the city aren't allowed to start serving alcohol until 11:00 AM. Layton will seek to change that with a temporary measure that could have brew taps flowing as early as 6:00 AM. Layton explained:
I don’t imagine it’s that folks are going to be taking advantage of it at seven in the morning, but when that third period hits, and it’s ten-thirty, just before restaurants and bars can start serving alcohol. I don’t see any harm in that. Particularly for the medal-contending games, why not relax it a little bit.
Toronto deputy mayor, Norm Kelly, is fully on board with the motion.
Go Canada Go! You’re either invested in the hockey supremacy of Canada or you’re not. I don’t know how many people will take advantage of it, but for that short period of time and for that purpose, I’m all for it.
Without a shred of irony, Mayor Rob Ford and his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, both expressed support for the motion while on a local radio station Thursday morning. The mayor called it “good for business," while his brother said what we were all thinking.
You’re asking Rob Ford if the bar should be open at 6 a.m. Come on?
Not even kidding.
Approximately zero consideration has been attached to the possibility that Canada might not be participating in the gold medal game.
