AGLC’s Restrictions on BC Wine - GVBOT Letter to Premier Smith

For Immediate Release-->

Feb. 14, 2024

The Honourable Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta
Office of the Premier
307 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6
SENT VIA EMAIL: premier@gov.ab.ca

The Honourable Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction of Alberta
Members of Executive Council
Executive Branch
229 Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6
SENT VIA EMAIL: ministersa@gov.ab.ca
 

Re: Concerns Regarding AGLC’s Restrictions on Interprovincial Trade with British Columbia Dear Premier Smith and Minister Nally,

On behalf of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) and our 5,000+ members, I am writing to express our concerns relating to Alberta government’s Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC)’s recent restrictions imposed on interprovincial trade for wine from British Columbia to Alberta, including the threat of refusing all shipments for products stocked in restaurants and liquor stores. Our diverse membership encompasses various sectors, including wineries, many of which actively engage in both international and interprovincial trade.

As two geographically close provinces in Western Canada, British Columbia and Alberta share a meaningful relationship as we have strong community and economic ties. A thriving free-trade relationship between our provinces is integral to the economic well-being of both, and we value the importance of nurturing a robust and mutually beneficial economic exchange.

Alberta has been a leader in advancing internal trade, having committed to eliminating most of its remaining trade barriers in 2019. The Alberta government has made positive steps in promoting free trade with other part of Canada, including the leadership in the New West Partnership Agreement. According to an analysis by the Montreal Economic Institute , Alberta has the fewest impediments to trade between provinces and territories, scrapping 21 of 27 exemptions under the Canada Free Trade Agreement. However, we believe the AGLC's restriction is a step backward to the Alberta government's commitment to fostering interprovincial trade, especially with other western Canadian provinces, as outlined in the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA).

Right outside our offices at 999 Canada Place in downtown Vancouver, we see millions of dollars of goods a day either produced by Albertans or products destined for your province flow through our port. Alberta is indeed Canada’s heartland and the world’s breadbasket. In addition, Alberta is a significant “industrial heartland” and a significant source of energy, natural resources, and other products the world needs. The people-to-people and business-to-business links between our provinces cannot be understated. Shaped by our geography and resources, we both developed an entrepreneurial attitude that has shaped our industries and government. The foundation of our economies has always been innovative, resource-based industries that seek to find new markets while competing against the rest of the world.

In B.C. an industry that exemplifies the entrepreneurial mindset is our award-winning wine industry. It proudly serves consumers in domestic and international markets, and there is a strong appreciation for B.C. wine amongst Albertan consumers and retails. Together, consumers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba consume over 62 million litres of B.C. wine each year.

In the spirit of collaboration, we encourage you to seek a solution and believe that you will find an industry that is amenable to ensuring equitable taxation and revenue for government. Specifically, we recommend considering solutions that allow out-of-province wine producers to collect and remit taxes in an equitable manner that would contribute to the Alberta government's revenue. This could be done in a way that ensures fairness for all, appropriate regulatory oversight, while simultaneously keeping our internal markets open to trade within Canada.

We would appreciate the opportunity to engage in a collaborative dialogue and request a meeting with you to discuss this matter further.

Thank you for your consideration of our perspectives around interprovincial trade between B.C. and Alberta. We would welcome the opportunity to engage in further discussions at your earliest convenience.

Media contact:

Federico Cerani
Communications Manager
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
604-640-5450 | media@boardoftrade.com