KELOWNA, BC – Today the British Columbia Wine Institute has notified the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) that it will challenge the constitutionality of the ban imposed by the AGLC.
The ban, imposed on February 6, is severely harming BC wineries and grapegrowers, many of which are small, family-owned operations.
“The BC Wine Institute regrets having to resort to legal action to protect our industry and the families that rely on it for their livelihoods. We need to end this prohibition of BC wines,” said Miles Prodan, President and CEO of the BC Wine Institute.
With 276 wineries and 923 grapegrowers, the BC wine industry is an important contributor to the local economy, jobs and quality of life. These businesses employ more than 12,000 people whose livelihood is now at risk.
BC Wine
The ban also highlights a larger issue – the importance of free interprovincial trade.
“We believe it is unconstitutional to prohibit the import of Canadian goods into another province based solely on where they come from. All Canadians should be concerned, because if wine can be prohibited based on its province of origin, so can any product from any other province,” added Prodan. “We hope that the AGLC will take this opportunity to end the unfair targeting of the BC wine industry.”
Consumers should be able to purchase the wine of their choice, yet provinces are divided on permitting direct-to-consumer shipments of alcohol sales. Changes to the restrictions would protect our industry from being unfairly targeted by provincial governments engaged in unrelated disputes.
Free interprovincial trade would positively impact the economy across the country. Industry research reveals that for every $1.00 spent on Canadian wine in Canada, $3.42 in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generated across the country.
The negative impact of the ban also extends to BC’s wine tourism industry. According to a wine industry study, one million tourists visited BC wineries in 2015, generating $452 million in direct and indirect revenue for the broader British Columbia economy in 2015.
Prodan explained, “The BC wine industry has always had a strong and positive relationship with Albertans. Many visit our wineries each year and our wines have long been appreciated by consumers. Our provinces share a long history of collaboration, strong economic ties, resilience, and pride for the products we grow. Because of the ban, that friendship is being tested.”
