Nine premiers have agreed to direct-to-consumer alcohol sales between provinces at a meeting in Charlottetown this week. The provincial leaders decided on Tuesday major barriers to out-of-province alcohol sales would be removed. The changes are effective immediately for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. British Columbia will be implementing the direct-to-consumer changes for all alcohol types in February 2027. New Brunswick New Brunswick and Manitoba were already open to out-of-province products before Wednesday’s decision. “New Brunswick has allowed other Canadians to purchase beer, wine and spirits directly from its producers since last August, eliminating provincial markups and administrative barriers,” reads a news release from the province. “We knew it would create new opportunities for our producers and give Canadians greater access to the incredible products made here at home,” says New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt in the release. “Now, more provinces are joining us in breaking down internal trade barriers and building one Canadian economy.” Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s leading winemaking regions and produces a variety of beer, coolers, cider and distilled products. “It’s going to be a game changer for many of our members who are in this sector,” says Don Bureaux, president of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great move to have the reduction of barriers and the creating of conditions that allow our businesses to expand. For us, I think we’re going to begin to see immediate benefits… we’re going to see gains from this for years to come.” As of Wednesday, producers can now sell their products to consumers in the seven other provinces seeing regulatory changes. Producers from outside the province will have to be authorized by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) to sell directly to Nova Scotians. Applications are open on the NSLC website. Nova Scotia producers will need to be authorized by regulators in other provinces, too. “We aren’t just planning for the future; we are fighting back right now. The Trump administration has thrown global trade into chaos, and we refuse to let Nova Scotians pay the price for Washington’s politics,” Nova Scotia Premier Houston says in a news release. Prince Edward Island Alcohol producers outside the Island will need to provide proof of licenses and permits from their home jurisdictions to the PEI Liquor Control Commission (PEILCC) before being able to enter the P.E.I. market. “This is a significant milestone in our country’s economic story that will help strengthen Canada against new global realities. The signing of this agreement is a good day for consumer choice, and it’s a good day for Island producers who now stand to gain access to nearly 22 million potential buyers,” said P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz in a news release. More to come… With files from The Canadian Press and CTV News Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis
