The Conservatives are proposing a private member’s bill to enable Canada Post to ship alcohol directly to consumers across the country – an idea that Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he is open to.
MP Dan Albas, who represents the British Columbia riding of Okanagan Lake West–South Kelowna, tabled Bill C-262 on Monday.
If passed, the bill would amend the Canada Post Corporation Act to give the mail service and other designated “trusted” carriers the ability to deliver beer, wine and spirits directly to consumers.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said at a press conference Tuesday that it is currently illegal for Canada Post to deliver Canadian alcohol to Canadian consumers in six of 10 provinces. The four that allow it are British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
Mr. Albas said his bill would ensure national consistency. “This means that your loved ones, when they go to an artisan distillery or a craft brewery or a small family winery, that they can send some of that wonderful product back home,” Mr. Albas told reporters.
Asked about supporting Bill C-262 in Question Period Tuesday, Mr. LeBlanc said he was open to the proposed changes.
“The regulation of the sale of alcohol is within the hands of provincial and territorial governments,” Mr. LeBlanc said.
“However, [Mr. Albas’s] idea of changing Section 19 of the Canada Post act to incentivize provinces to allow and to co-operate with the Government of Canada is a good one, and I will happily raise it with provincial ministers later this month.”
Last March, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised federal “free trade” within the country by Canada Day. In June, the Liberal government passed Bill C-5, which removed federal internal trade barriers.
The government has removed all federal internal trade barriers on alcohol, said Gabriel Brunet, a spokesperson for Mr. LeBlanc, and all remaining ones fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction.
Mr. Brunet said in a statement that the committee on internal trade is meeting on March 30.