Scott Reid Speaks Out Against Interprovincial Trade Barriers

Ottawa – Thursday night, local MP Scott Reid stood in the House of Commons to call on Parliamentarians to support a bill that will put an end to provincial restrictions which stymie the buying of wine in different parts of Canada.

The law which bans the transport of wine for personal consumption across provincial boundaries dates back to the prohibition era.

“Frankly this kind of thing is long overdue,” stated Reid.  “It shouldn’t be illegal to get wine for personal consumption from other provinces.  This is one relic we should get rid of.”

The Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act dates back to 1928 but is still on the books.  Therefore it still prohibits Canadians from moving their own wine across a provincial border.  For example, if someone buys a bottle of wine while visiting the Okanagan, or picks up a bottle in Quebec and brings it home to Ontario, technically that individual has broken the law.

If that individual is caught, the penalty is $200 or three months in jail.  If they’re caught for the third time, the minimum penalty is a six month jail sentence.  While rarely enforced, the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act is still in effect.

“If we no longer find it acceptable to keep this provision, then let’s get it off the books so that nobody needs to feel guilty for moving their wine from one province to another.  To my mind there’s nothing illegitimate about a Canadian citizen buying wine in one province, and consuming it in another province – especially from the Federal point of view.”

Bill C-311,  An Act to amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act was introduced into the House of Commons on October 3^rd by Conservative MP Dan Albas and seconded by local MP Scott Reid.

Albas and Reid both urged their colleagues’ support at the first hour of scheduled debate over the bill on October 20^th in the House of Commons.  If approved by Parliament, it would remove the restrictions in the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act that prohibit the interprovincial transportation of wine for personal consumption and leaves it up to each province to place their own restrictions, if any, on the quantities they deem permissible.

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For further information contact:

Phil Joannou
Communications Assistant to Scott Reid, MP
613-947-2277

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