The Canadian Press
EDMONTON–The Alberta government is opening a new front in its beer war with other provinces by targeting Ontario for what it says are its unfair trade barriers to Alberta-made suds and other alcoholic products.
The initiative emerged yesterday as Alberta announced a full retreat on its own craft beer subsidies that were found by a judge last spring to be unconstitutional.
“Alberta has the most open liquor policy in the country, offering Albertans a choice of over 3,700 Canadian products,” Economic Development and Trade minister Deron Bilous said at an Edmonton brewery yesterday.
“Alberta merchants stock and sell 745 alcoholic beverages from Ontario,” he noted.
“Ontario is the largest market in the country, three times larger than our own, yet we can only find about 20 Alberta liquor products listed for sale in Ontario,” Bilous added.
The complaint under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is being made against Ontario because it has the biggest liquor market in Canada.
But it could be expanded to include other provinces with similar barriers, Bilous said, adding he’s hoping for an amicable solution.
Under the CFTA, Ontario will have 120 days to respond to the complaint made in a letter sent yesterday morning.
The complaint then may proceed to a CFTA panel for a ruling on corrective actions or allowed retaliatory measures, with a provision for either side to appeal that ruling, explained Jean-Marc Prevost, Bilous’ press secretary.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario said in a statement yesterday that it is aware of the Alberta action and that “breweries from anywhere in Canada are equally able to access our listing process.”
In his letter to Ontario Trade minister Todd Smith, Bilous complained that Ontario gives local brewers access to stores over Alberta brewers, gives Ontario beverages preferential shelf or refrigerated locations, requires Alberta brewers to provide commercially-confidential information to their larger competitors to be listed, and gives Ontario small brewers a significant discount on listing costs.
Smith said he is surprised by Alberta’s move.
“Just last week, I sat across from representatives from the government of Alberta and not once did they mention this to me,” he said in a statement.
“The Government of Ontario is committed to reducing interprovincial trade barriers, as we made clear in our fall economic statement when we said we wouldn’t stand in the way of pipeline projects moving forward,” Smith added.
