A new ad starring a Galen Weston Jr. lookalike is using the public's aversion toward the supermarket tycoon to drum up support for striking LCBO workers.

The clip's simple, straightforward style and depiction of grocery oligarchs as the evil antithesis of the average working citizen is definitely resonating with many viewers this week.

Created and funded by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents just shy of 10,000 LCBO staffers, the message starts with the actor introducing himself as "Callen" (a clear nod to the former Loblaw president and CEO/current CEO of parent company George Weston Limited).

NEW - Opseu is on the air with this commercial amid the LCBO strike. It features a supposed grocery CEO, who is clearly meant to be Galen Weston. The government also out with an ad featuring the LCBO CEO urging the union to return to talks. pic.twitter.com/Alw7cKFWDI

— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) July 16, 2024

"Hello, poors!" Callen says arrogantly before his title of "relatable billionaire grocery chain CEO" pops up on the screen.

"I may be rich, but I'm drowning... in profits," he continues. "That's why I want a big slice of the LCBO. Sure, they invest $2.5 billion in your 'community' — that's basically nothing to me. Just like you, I struggle... to have enough yachts. Just like you, I'm sad inside... my mansion!"

He then explains how he worked "really hard to be born into money," asking, "don't I deserve more of yours?" before a few more wealth-related quips.

"Stop funding public services. Start funding me," the ad ends with a mock GoFundMe logo that instead reads "sofundme.ca" with the tagline "helping Doug Ford help billionaires" underneath.

Anyone who visits the URL is given a rundown of the OPSEU's stance — such as the "2,500,000,000/yr* that LCBO invests in public services, and that striking workers are fighting to protect" — and is encouraged to fill out a form to contact their local MPP to express support of the work action.

While many are calling the video "brilliant" and "hilarious" in its execution and portrayal of Weston and his peers, who have become nothing short of villains in the public eye amid sky-high food prices and record grocery store profits, a few outliers question if it hits the mark.

"The union wants to tell the government where they're allowed to sell drinks and went on strike until they got their way. The 'talks' are them understanding it's not their role to demand policy, and returning to work," one person wrote.

Others may note that Ford's rollout of alcoholic beverages to more stores across the province isn't exclusive to big box and grocery stores (many of which can already sell beer and wine), but to thousands of corner stores, predominantly.

The "talks" are them negotiating a CA that preserves jobs (and a source of funds for public services) while the government intends to fork out millions/billion to their donor buddies. 🙄

— Just Jen (@76_jen) July 16, 2024

Still, the portrayal of profiteering private-sector executives and the suggestion that Premier Doug Ford has their interests in mind before those of his own constituents is pretty spot on.

There is also the fact that Ford spent government money on his own ads on the subject, versus the OPSEU's, which is ostensibly funded by union dues.