Photo: Carmen Weld

Okanagan MP Dan Albas is not giving up on his fight to have free trade of all Canadian products within Canada borders.

June 28 marked the four-year anniversary of Albas' private member's bill, C-311, that amended the federal law to allow for direct to consumer wine shipping.

While his bill passed, just three provinces have signed on, leaving a lot more work to do.

At a press event Tuesday at Quails' Gate Winery, Albas shared his frustration that only three provinces have opened their borders since his bill passed four years ago.

“We only have three provinces, out of 13 provinces and territories, that have actually said they believe in the free trade of Canadian wine,” says Albas, Central Okanagan - Similkameen - Nicola MP.

“People have asked why that is and it is because provincial liquor monopolies view this direct to consumer as being the thin edge of the wedge that may compromise their ability to make money for their provinces," he says. “I understand that, but we also have to see that by lowering trade barriers, it is a debt free way for us to grow our economy.”

Albas says the Senate just tabled a report, Tear Down These Walls, that showed that the Canadian economy suffers each year due to the policies that make it difficult for Canadians to do business with other Canadians.

He is optimistic a recent provincial court decision in New Brunswick could bring change: the Comeau Case.

It is a case out of New Brunswick where a man named Gerard Comeau was charged for bringing 14 cases of beer across the provincial border from Quebec.

He challenged the charge and won. The judge agreed that the charge itself violated Comeau's rights under the Constitution.

“He was found not guilty under Section 121 of our Constitution, our free-trade clause,” explains Albas.

That section of the Constitution states: "All articles of the growth, produce or manufacture of any of the provinces shall, from and after the Union, be admitted free into each of the other provinces."

“Basically, if it is a Canadian product, it should be available everywhere, without any of these trade barriers,” says Albas.

He says the decision in that case is being watched closely as it provides a precedent for a constitutional challenge that could impact provincial liquor laws across Canada.

“Academic scholars and constitutional lawyers have said this will go all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, and if it does, it will have far-reaching consequences,” he says.

“It won't just relate to beer, spirits and wine, it will relate to a whole host of products right across Canada. So, I've launched the #FreetheBeer and Open Up the Canadian Economy campaign. We believe that the Fathers of Confederation made it pretty clear that Canada was supposed to be an economic union not just a political one. They believed it should be a constitutional right.”

Albas says it would not only allow more B.C. wine into Ontario, but also allow things like Quebec cheese into B.C.

Miles Prodan, president of the BC Wine Institute, was also on hand Tuesday to share his own frustration that the 'Free my Grapes' bill has not gotten further.

“The work he did, that started four years ago, is critical to the B.C. wine industry,” says Prodan. “We are a little disappointed with he progress we've been seeing in some of the provinces."

“Here in the Okanagan Valley, obviously Alberta is an important market. We know Albertans are coming to B.C. and enjoying B.C. wine and it only makes sense that when they go home they have the ability to continue that relationship with the winery. What could be better than sitting in Alberta in the middle of winter and getting that case of Okanagan wine to continue that relationship and encourage you to visit again next summer.”

Prodan says it is simply about Canadians being able to enjoy other Canadian products.

“It just makes no sense to me at all. B.C. opened up our borders to other province's wines and we haven't seen that impact our industry. It hasn't affected BC VQA sales, so it just allows more people to enjoy the product.”

As to why Albas keeps fighting four years later, he says he owes it to winery owners he's been fighting for since the beginning.

“I asked John Skinner at Painted Rock what he would do if the bill passed and he said he would build a new tasting room. Now, if you go down to Painted Rock you can visit that beautiful tasting room,” says Albas.

“For him the bill was a sign things were going to happen. I owe it to John to keep fighting for this. He is making investments, so I am going to keep making investments until it happens. This is something I care very deeply about.”

Albas will also be launching a petition drive this week to show the Liberal government that Canadians want the provincial trade barriers erased.

“We want to show the government there is a wide appetite right across the country to see freer trade in Canada and that they should support the Comeau Case being elevated to the Supreme Court of Canada.”