Canadians want barriers banished

CANADIANS WANT TO BE FREED FROM PROVINCIAL ALCOHOL MONOPOLIES: POLL

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear a landmark case on provincial beer and liquor monopolies, a new poll indicates Canadians overwhelmingly want to tear down trade barriers to alcohol — and any other legal product — across the country.

The right-leaning Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) commissioned a poll by Ipsos Public Affairs, which surveyed 1,103 Canadians in an online panel between Oct. 26 and Nov. 1.

Eighty-nine per cent of respondents said Canadians should be able to bring any legal product from one province to another — which is currently illegal when it comes to alcohol. Of the 89 per cent, 72 per cent said they “strongly agree.”

Provinces such as New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario maintain strict laws limiting the free trade of beer and spirits.

A New Brunswick man learned this the hard way and his case will be heard in front of the country’s highest court Dec. 6-7.

In 2012, the RCMP arrested Gerard Comeau on his return to New Brunswick after he had bought alcohol in Quebec.

He was fined for violating New Brunswick law, which limits the amount of booze that can be brought in from elsewhere in Canada.

Comeau contested the ticket, arguing Sec. 121 of the Constitution Act, 1867, mandates that all Canadian goods be admitted freely across the country.

His lawyers argued the fathers of Confederation wanted a single market for all products made in Canada.

The Ipsos poll suggested about 25 per cent of Canadians heard about the Comeau case, and 78 per cent of respondents said the New Brunswick man should win.

Eighty-four per cent of respondents said Canadians should be permitted to order wine from any winery in the country, while 78 per cent said they should be allowed to bring any amount of wine or beer purchased in one province into another province.