Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said he was supportive of the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) saying Canadian provincial and territorial governments should do more to expand interjurisdictional online liquor sales. Right now, Nally said Alberta has the most open, free market for liquor. “We embrace the opportunity to reduce interprovincial trade barriers to liquor sales,” said Nally at a Monday press scrum. The MEI said on Thursday Canadian provincial and territorial governments should let people shop online for alcoholic beverages produced elsewhere in Canada..Think tank says online liquor sales must open up.Additionally, the MEI said Canadian interprovincial trade barriers on alcohol are so bad producers some times find shipment to another country is easier than to another province.“The restrictions imposed by provincial alcohol monopolies are such that it is some times easier for a Canadian producer to sell its products on the other side of the world than in the province next door,” said MEI research associate and study co-author Shal Marriott. Nally followed up by saying the Alberta government will be starting a pilot project with the British Columbia government about online wine sales. “And we’re hoping that this will be a springboard that not only we can use to open up more markets, but the rest of the country can embrace as well,” he said. The Alberta government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the British Columbia government in July to allow wineries in their provinces to sell directly to consumers in the other one..WINE WAR OVER: Deal reached to allow BC wineries to sell directly to Albertans.This means Albertans will be able to order wine from BC producers and have it shipped to their homes, and British Columbians can do the same with Alberta’s new wineries. “This means more consumer choice, more market access for businesses, more growth and prosperity for Albertans and British Columbians, and the agreement also means that we can ensure consistent charges are applied to all wines sold in Alberta,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
