B.C. wine industry pushes for internal trade changes as premiers meet with Carney

As Canada’s premiers meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Charlottetown, B.C.’s wine industry is pushing for changes to internal trade rules it says are making it harder for Canadian businesses to compete.

Ron Kubek, owner of Lightning Rock Winery in Summerland, says the recent 50 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on Canadian wine highlights the need for a stronger domestic market.

Kubek says while Canadian producers are facing challenges from outside the country, they are also dealing with barriers at home, including provincial markups, registration requirements and other rules that make it more difficult to sell products across provincial borders.

“We can’t control Washington. We can control the barriers we create at home.”

Kubek says Canadian wine, beer and spirits should not be treated like foreign products when they move between provinces. He is calling on governments to remove internal trade barriers and make it easier for licensed producers to sell directly to consumers across the country.

He says opening up trade within Canada would benefit not only wineries, but also farmers, manufacturers, transportation companies, restaurants, hotels and tourism operators connected to the industry.

“Canadians have been told to buy Canadian. Canadians want to…the problem is governments continue to make it unnecessarily difficult.”

The premiers are expected to discuss Canada’s economy, internal trade and the response to growing protectionism during meetings in Charlottetown this week. Kubek says the talks are an opportunity for leaders to strengthen the domestic market and make it easier for Canadians to support Canadian businesses.