Advocates of removing trade barriers that prevent citizens from moving more than small amounts of alcohol across provincial borders say they are cautiously optimistic about a line in Tuesdayâs federal budget.
The budget states: âTo facilitate internal trade, the Government intends to remove the federal requirement that alcohol moving from one province to another be sold or consigned to a provincial liquor authority. Provinces and territories would continue to be able to regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol within their boundaries.â
Derek From, staff lawyer at the tells CTVNews.ca that although âthe devil is in the detailsâ the proposal âsounds very promising.â
At present, the prohibition-era states that liquor canât cross provincial boundaries âexcept such as has been purchased by or on behalf of, and that is consigned to Her Majesty or the executive government of, the province into which it is being imported.â
This is likely the law the Liberals are planning to change, according to From.
âBest case scenario is a restaurant in downtown Toronto that wants to have access to a really nice wine in B.C., but itâs not on the shelf in any of the stores in Ontarioâ will be able to âjust get online and order it and have it directly shipped to them,â he said.
Dan Paszkowski, president of the Canadian Vintners Association, says he believes the Liberals intend to let consumers order wines from other provinces directly to their homes, rather than going through a provincial government agency like Ontarioâs LCBO or Quebecâs SAQ.
âIf you ordered a case of wine from British Columbia it (currently) would have to go through the LCBO,â he told CTVâs Power Play. âWith this, you wouldnât have to go through the LCBO -- and hopefully avoid the tax.â
From said he believes the case of Gerard Comeau, whom the CCF defended at the Supreme Court of Canada, brought the interprovincial trade barriers to the publicâs attention.
Comeau was fined $292.40 in 2012 for transporting several cases of beer and some liquor into New Brunswick from Quebec. He fought the ticket all the way to the supreme court and lost. The court said that provinces have the right to incidentally burden free trade with laws that have other valid purposes like protecting health or safety.
From said the change would be a win for producers and consumers. âThereâs no one who doesnât benefit,â he said.