Saskatchewan applauds direct-to-consumer alcohol sales agreement

Saskatchewan's alcohol producers and business groups are celebrating a new agreement allowing direct-to-consumer sales across provincial borders. This move is seen as a significant step toward creating a unified Canadian economy by removing interprovincial trade barriers.

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But now with the rules changing, we’re hoping that that changes.

John Cote, CEO of Black Fox Farming and Distillery in Saskatoon, expressed frustration with previous Canadian regulations that made exporting easier than selling domestically. "Once you get into a foreign country, typically their laws are very well spelled out and you can just follow all those rules," Cote said. "Meanwhile, in Canada, every province is like its own little country, and it was so frustrating dealing with all that."

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started realizing that actually exporting was easier than selling in Canada because once you get into a foreign country, typically their laws are very well spelled out and you can just follow all those rules. Meanwhile, in Canada, every province is like its own little country, and it was so frustrating dealing with all that.

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce's CEO, Prabha Ramaswamy, called the agreement "a very significant step in the right direction." She emphasized the need for implementation that ensures consistency across all provinces. However, Ramaswamy also noted that this is just the first step, with future efforts needing to focus on how the agreement will be put into practice.

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This is a very significant step in the right direction. One of the things we’ve been calling for is the creation of one Canadian economy by removing trade barriers. Advancing labour mobility and regulatory alignment.

Policy advocates, like SeoRhin Yoo from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, acknowledge the positive step but argue it doesn't go far enough. They point to ongoing barriers such as markups, complex paperwork, and labeling standards that still hinder local producers from easily accessing liquor store shelves and restaurant menus nationwide.

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Implementation has to take into account any variations across jurisdictions and across provinces, and tackle those variations to ensure that there’s consistency across Canada.