Conservative bill would allow Canada Post to deliver alcohol nationwide

Albas, who represents B.C. wine country, said it’s the logical solution to a long-standing problem and would allow small firms to get a little more business.

“This means these small producers will get a chance to compete for your business. This means that your loved ones, when they go to an artisan distillery or a craft brewery or a small family winery, they can send some of that wonderful product back home,” he said.

At a news conference with Albas on Tuesday morning, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in the middle of a trade war, rules like the ones that currently prevent Canada Post from making such deliveries make no sense.

“Canada Post will deliver you American alcohol, but they won’t deliver you Canadian alcohol in six of 10 provinces,” he said.

Several provinces have regulations that prevent alcohol deliveries through the mail, while others allow it within their borders. The Conservatives believe federal legislation that explicitly allows Canada Post to deliver beer, wine and spirits would supersede the rules in provinces where it isn’t currently allowed.

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade threats last year, Prime Minister Mark Carney made a big push to remove interprovincial trade barriers and most premiers agreed to work on the issue.

On alcohol sales, all of the provinces signed off on a memorandum of understanding to allow direct-to-consumer sales. That MOU is supposed to deliver concrete agreements by May to allow shipments of alcohol for personal use between every province and territory.

In Question Period Tuesday, Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the federal government removed its barriers to the interprovincial trade in alcohol last year. 

He said Albas’s idea was a “good one” that could encourage provinces to remove any restrictions. 

“I will happily raise it with provincial ministers later this month. I look forward to working with him on this important issue,” LeBlanc said.

Last week, Ontario and Nova Scotia signed a deal allowing shipments of alcohol between those two provinces. Premier Doug Ford said it was part of a broader push to open up sales across the country. 

“With President Trump taking direct aim at Ontario companies and workers, it has never been more important to boost interprovincial trade and support local businesses,” he said. “Ontario is leading the way to unlock free trade within Canada.” 

Albas said he is concerned that the MOU process won’t lead to true free trade, and that there will be costs or fees for shipping alcohol across provinces that will hurt producers.

“They have these agreements where everyone makes money, where they have raised the cost of the product to the point that it is free trade in name only, not in actual practice,” he said.

Albas said small producers often can’t make enough product to get into large provincial liquor monopolies like the LCBO or the SAQ, but they would benefit from a few additional sales to customers around the country.

He said he hopes provinces agree to remove any barriers to shipping, but letting Canada Post ship anywhere in the country would ensure there is some movement.

“My bill would essentially create a floor, and let’s bear in mind this won’t just be for wineries, distillers and craft breweries, it’ll be for people who just want to send something they picked up in one province back home.”

Albas has introduced similar legislation in the past. As a private member’s bill it will face a significant challenge getting through the House of Commons.