Raise a Glass: The BC-Alberta Wine War is Over

The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) applauds the official launch of the Alberta-BC Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Wine Program, a critical initiative enabling British Columbia wineries to sell their products directly to consumers in Alberta.

When the trade skirmish began, the GVBOT joined with others to advocate for a fair and balanced solution. For example, in February last year, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade wrote a letter to Alberta’s Premier, the Honorable Danielle Smith reached out directly to Alberta stakeholders and the government to push for a solution. We were pleased to join with the industry associations and our members to propose a fair solution—one that allowed out-of-province wine producers to pay taxes equitably while keeping interprovincial trade open and thriving for everyone.

Economic Impact of B.C.’s Wine Industry

B.C.’s wine industry generates approximately $3.75 billion annually, contributing over $440 million in federal and provincial tax revenues. It employs over 14,000 full-time workers and attracts an estimated 1 million tourists annually, generating $452 million in tourism-related revenue.

Looking Ahead

Canada is facing the threat of widespread tariffs by our largest trading partner. While we should be pushing back with full force against those threats, one of the best actions we can take is to remove our own trade barriers. Currently, interprovincial trade barriers add between 7.8 and 14.5 per cent to the price of goods and services we purchase. The IMF has estimated that full liberalization of interprovincial trade could increase our GDP per capita by four per cent. It’s far past time to seize the moment and liberalize trade within Canada.