British Columbia Premier David Eby, right, gifts a bottle of B.C. wine to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith while speaking to reporters at the Council of the Federation meetings in Halifax on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
EDMONTON – The premiers of Alberta and B.C. are celebrating an agreement to again allow direct sales to consumers after a tiff over taxes.
With the temporary deal, Albertans can order wine directly from more than 350 wineries in B.C.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it means the province’s liquor wholesaler can collect consistent fees on all wine sold in the province, but details of how it will work are still being sorted.
The agreement comes after Alberta threatened to stop stocking wine in retail stores from B.C. producers who were selling directly to Alberta customers.
The Alberta government says all B.C. wine shipments going straight to consumers stopped during the standoff.
British Columbia Premier David Eby says he’s grateful for the deal, since Alberta’s decision challenged his province’s wine sector when it was also reeling from impact of extreme weather.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2024.
