Free the Beer Campaign

[Azure]

OTTAWA -- Federal Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains is dismissing a Conservative MP's suggestion to ask the Supreme Court to assess the constitutionality of cross-border limits for alcohol.

Bains says the Liberal government is working "intensely" to modernize the agreement on internal trade and that he's been meeting with his provincial counterparts on a range of trade issues, including alcohol.

"I very much support the free-flow of alcohol from one jurisdiction to another, particularly amongst provinces and territories," Bains told reporters in Ottawa. "We understand the importance of this issue in the context, again, of making sure that businesses have the opportunity to grow.

The Conservative critic for interprovincial trade is calling on the Liberals to test whether provincial limits on cross-border alcohol sales are constitutional.

But he says protectionism is getting in the way of some provinces removing their trade barriers.

"There's a mentality to protect your own jurisdiction," Bains said. "So the idea is there's the historical context, there's a revenue issue, there's a financial impact, but the bottom line is we understand if we don't eliminate these barriers, if we don't harmonize regulations, we're putting ourselves at a disadvantage, particularly as we move forward with other international trade agreements."

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/free-...vice-1.2923121

Crazy that it is easier for someone out of province to buy foreign alcohol than it is to buy a Canadian made product.

[CroFlames]

It's criminal how expensive booze is in Canada to begin with.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

It's criminal how expensive booze is in Canada to begin with.

I would disagree, as much as it hurts my wallet. I am very pro sin taxes as they cost the tax payers more in medical and other fees (i.e. speeding causes accidents) and very avoidable.

I am for a junk food tax as well.

And for the record, this is from a massive beer drinking speeder.

I get while people would feel the other way, but I am not for private health care for large scale items, which I would assume (or hope) those people are. I would assume being pro public health care and being against sin taxes are mutually exclusive? Or no?

[CroFlames]

You make sense Kavvy. But no. Down with beer prices!!!!

[indes]

I'm with you kavvy, my mind says yes but my heart says lower alcohol prices!

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

You make sense Kavvy. But no. Down with beer prices!!!!

Originally Posted by indes

I'm with you kavvy, my mind says yes but my heart says lower alcohol prices!

Well, you are making it very tough to provide a counterpoint too!

[SebC]

While we're at it, can we ask if blockading other provinces' exports is also unconstitutional?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by SebC

While we're at it, can we ask if blockading other provinces' exports is also unconstitutional?

ayyyyy

[Tacopuck]

uhg I totally read the thread title as the "Free Beer Campaign"


Leaving extremely disappointed.....

[OffsideSpecialist]

I guess I broke the law every couple weeks in Uni when I used to go to Quebec from Ottawa to buy my beer

[Northendzone]

out of curiousity, has anyone ever seen a spot check on the highways that cross the alberta border?

I assume that majority of westbound vehicles with Saskatchewan plates are transporting pilsner - who iknows, maybe there even is a smokey and the bandit scenario going on between moose jaw and Duncan BC

[Nyah]

Is it also true that if the RCMP ask if they can check your vehicle it's your right to refuse?

[ken0042]

From the article:
Lower alcohol taxes in Quebec mean its prices are substantially lower than those in neighbouring provinces. For example, a case of 24 Budweiser or Molson Canadian beers sells for $42.65 in New Brunswick, and $29.99 in Quebec

Setting aside the beer snobbery, how is it that Ottawa is sending transfer payments to a province that is leaving $12 per case of beer on the table? Looks like beer sales in Canada are $16B; with Quebec having 1/4 the population of Canada that is about $4B. They are missing a billion dollars in tax revenue.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

out of curiousity, has anyone ever seen a spot check on the highways that cross the alberta border?

I assume that majority of westbound vehicles with Saskatchewan plates are transporting pilsner - who iknows, maybe there even is a smokey and the bandit scenario going on between moose jaw and Duncan BC

I had some friends who had to dump out all their booze on the way to the Schuswap to go house boating as they couldn't produce receipts saying it was bought in BC.

They were pulled over for speeding though. Don't know if they were rude to the cop or anything.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by ken0042

From the article:
Lower alcohol taxes in Quebec mean its prices are substantially lower than those in neighbouring provinces. For example, a case of 24 Budweiser or Molson Canadian beers sells for $42.65 in New Brunswick, and $29.99 in Quebec

Setting aside the beer snobbery, how is it that Ottawa is sending transfer payments to a province that is leaving $12 per case of beer on the table? Looks like beer sales in Canada are $16B; with Quebec having 1/4 the population of Canada that is about $4B. They are missing a billion dollars in tax revenue.

Um, duh, Ottawa always knows what's best. Are you suggesting that Quebec raise it's own revenue instead of accepting payments from other provinces? What a ridiculous notion.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by ken0042

From the article:
Lower alcohol taxes in Quebec mean its prices are substantially lower than those in neighbouring provinces. For example, a case of 24 Budweiser or Molson Canadian beers sells for $42.65 in New Brunswick, and $29.99 in Quebec

Setting aside the beer snobbery, how is it that Ottawa is sending transfer payments to a province that is leaving $12 per case of beer on the table? Looks like beer sales in Canada are $16B; with Quebec having 1/4 the population of Canada that is about $4B. They are missing a billion dollars in tax revenue.

You new to this country? The rest of Canada is shamed into subsidizing Quebec.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I had some friends who had to dump out all their booze on the way to the Schuswap to go house boating as they couldn't produce receipts saying it was bought in BC.

They were pulled over for speeding though. Don't know if they were rude to the cop or anything.

There used to be a Prohibition era federal law not allowing you to bring alcohol across Provincial boundaries. This law was overturned in 2012 (IIRC).

The RCMP used to target younger people at checkstops and enforce this law to dump booze during party weekends in Shuswap, Radium, etc.

Provinces have their own limits though.

BC
Up to three litres of spirits;
Up to nine litres of wine; and
25.6 litres of beer.

AB
No limit

What's happening in NB is that these inter-provincial rules are now being tested.

[skudr248]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

It's criminal how expensive booze is in Canada to begin with.

Especially up here in Yellowknife. Crazy expensive.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Originally Posted by ken0042

From the article:
Lower alcohol taxes in Quebec mean its prices are substantially lower than those in neighbouring provinces. For example, a case of 24 Budweiser or Molson Canadian beers sells for $42.65 in New Brunswick, and $29.99 in Quebec

Setting aside the beer snobbery, how is it that Ottawa is sending transfer payments to a province that is leaving $12 per case of beer on the table? Looks like beer sales in Canada are $16B; with Quebec having 1/4 the population of Canada that is about $4B. They are missing a billion dollars in tax revenue.

Because the politicians in Ottawa buy their beer in Quebec themselves, of course.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Nyah

Is it also true that if the RCMP ask if they can check your vehicle it's your right to refuse?

unless they have a warrant, yes.