Local businesses weigh in on Alberta’s B.C. wine ban
Alberta consumers and B.C. businesses are being used as “pawns” in a provincial trade dispute, an industry group charged Tuesday, in reaction to news of a ban on bringing B.C. wines to the province.
Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president for Western Canada at Restaurants Canada, said the move announced by Premier Rachel Notley sets a precedent he described as “dangerous and costly for small businesses and consumers.”
“I think, as a country, we’re trying to strike down domestic and international trade barriers, and this decision certainly moves us in completely the wrong direction,” von Schellwitz said.
Notley said Tuesday that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission will immediately halt the import of B.C. wine to Alberta, and the province will begin enforcing a law that prohibits consumers from directly ordering B.C. wine by phone, email or online.
The move follows the B.C. government’s decision last week to restrict increases in bitumen shipments from Alberta until more spill response studies are conducted.
Alberta will revisit the ban on a regular basis as it monitors the response by B.C. and the federal government.
Von Schellwitz said small B.C. wine producers who have a lot of Alberta restaurants as customers will be hurt by the ban. For businesses in Alberta, the move will mean restricted menu choices.
“I would imagine that the majority of our members would be extremely frustrated being dragged into this trade dispute between Alberta and British Columbia,” he said.
Geoff Last, general manager at Bin 905 wine shop in Calgary and wine columnist for the Calgary Herald, said he understands the premier taking a stand in response to B.C.’s decision.
“It’s something that’s vital to our economy and Canada’s economy, so I totally understand her position,” Last said.
But the unfortunate part, he added, is “the losers at the end of the day are going to be the B.C. wineries.”
“Most winemakers are farmers and, like farmers, it’s a difficult way to make a living,” he said.
Al Drinkle, with Calgary wine store Metrovino, called the ban “theatrical.”
“I think it’s pretty ridiculous,” he said. “It’s obviously a reaction that’s trying to garner attention.”
He said the move won’t have a major effect on his store, but questioned how the ban will be enforced.
“I’m sure there’s other ways that we could, and by we I mean willingly or not as Albertans, damage the B.C. economy in ways more effectively than ceasing to import their wine,” he added. “But what a high-profile and celebrated product to ban.”
Alberta imported about 17.2 million bottles in 2017, amounting to about $70 million for B.C. wineries, Notley said.
Miles Prodan, president of the B.C. Wine Institute, cited a retail value of $160 million for the B.C. wine industry, with 30 per cent of wine sold in Alberta produced or bottled in B.C.
He said Alberta is the second most important market for B.C. wine, after B.C. itself.
Prodan added his group has been closely watching the NAFTA negotiations with concern about how it could affect the B.C. wine industry.
“To have this come through from the Alberta government, it comes as a complete surprise,” he said.