Plan to tap into other provinces not sufficient: Manitoba brewers

Jeff Keele has details on the deal making it easier for alcohol to move from coast to coast.

A plan to help alcohol flow smoother between provinces might not be the silver bullet Manitoba brewers were hoping for.

In response to the trade war with the U.S., the prime minister and most premiers said they agreed on a number of measures to reduce interprovincial trade restrictions.

Federal Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand said the government is breaking down barriers. Part of the deal will let businesses sell alcohol directly to customers from one province to another, something Manitoba already allows.

“It’s going to be much easier to buy alcohol made out of province in home jurisdictions and that is a positive,’ said Anand.

Winnipeg brewers said selling to individual customers in another province is a good start but it falls short.

Little Brown Jug owner Kevin Selch said the plan is not sufficient.

“We move beer by the pallet, not by the case,” said Selch.

Selch said what they really need is access to store shelves like LCBO stores in Ontario.

“I think the government may have overreached in it’s communications yesterday,” said Selch. “I think what customers and the public is expecting to see are new beer products, new wine products on liquor stores near them; that was not what was announced,” said Selch.

Patent 5 Distillery co-owner Brock Coutts echoed that sentiment. He said levies in other provinces, including Ontario, prevent the sale of his whiskey and vodka.

“By the time that they apply their markup on our product in their stores, we wouldn’t be price competitive,” said Coutts. “Not worth the effort.”

Elisabeth Saftiuk, from Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, said they’re calling on provinces to put laws in place to accept each others’ regulatory standards.

“This would allow for the seamless movement of goods, services, and talent, similar to what we saw Nova Scotia introduced last week,” said Saftiuk.

Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI did not sign on to the alcohol agreement.