Breaking provincial trade barriers for alcohol

(Jul. 9/12) The passing of Bill C-311 – and the resultant Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act – represents a small step toward liberalizing the wine trade and reducing interprovincial trade barriers.

About Bill C-311
Bill C-311 allows consumers purchasing wine for personal use to bring it, or have it shipped, across provincial boundaries. Prior to this Bill, an archaic federal law prevented this movement.

CRFA action
We took this opportunity to highlight the lack of access licensees have across the country to Canadian wines. Click here to read our open letter to Members of Parliament.

While the Bill received unanimous support in the House of Commons and Senate, the provinces quickly established their own limits on what could be driven or shipped across provincial borders.

CRFA is urging politicians to further amend the Act to exempt wine purchased by restaurants, in addition to consumers, and to reduce barriers for both Canada’s restaurant and wine industries.