OK so this is interesting - it speaks to the overall relationship of the provinces to the federal government and each other as well as the nature of our confederation - for better or worse.
Really was hoping we would be able to have free trade within our own borders - there is a case or two of wine out in Ontario that I would like to order in!
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled unanimously that provinces have the constitutional right to restrict the importation of goods from each other, as long as the primary aim of the restriction is not to impede trade.
The ruling goes against what the man at the centre of the so-called free-the-beer case had argued and hoped for.
Thursday's ruling will also dash the hopes of many Canadians who were hoping to have easier access to cheaper and sought-after products in another province, particularly alcohol and tobacco.
Canadian wineries will also be disappointed. They had been looking for support for their lobby to allow direct-to-consumer wine sales across the country.
Living in Lloydminster I always get a giggle out of this law, 95% of the liquor stores are on the Alberta side everyday people cross the border with more than a 24 pack.
The only time I've heard of someone getting fined was a bunch of rowdy baseball players and fans at a tournament on the Sask. side, they were lipping off the cops so they confiscated their beer and handed out fines.
That is too bad. I always believed it should be a free market with free trade. If they can make it and ship it for cheaper then somewhere else then let them.
But my questions is does this mean that the new Alberta law restricting the amount of oil being shipped to BC will be upheld in the future? This decision seems to argue that limits on amount do not equal trade barriers. Can Alberta cut production by 3/4s and still be ok as long as it doesn't stop it completely.
Bit of a head shaker, just exactly constitutes a "large" quantity of liquor ? Just another stupid ruling from the supreme Court. As long as it's for your own use, it should come under freedom of inter provincial trade. We can legally order cases of wine.
Grizz
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"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
A few years back beer in AB, was cheaper than Sask. it wasn't unusual to see cars with Sask. plates loading 20 or more cases. I never heard of anybody getting caught. 25 years ago when I lived 15 miles into Sask. I had 48 beer in the front seat of my single cab truck for Christmas, got pulled over at check stop the cop asked if any were open "nope" have good day I never thought about till later he could have taken the beer.
No cheap beer!
Hybrid Mode
