New Brunswick Moves to Open Alcohol Trade Across Provinces

Legislative amendments aim to ease interprovincial alcohol restrictions as U.S.-Canada trade tensions strain provincial budgets.

New Brunswick has introduced amendments to its Liquor Control Act, enabling the free movement of alcohol across provincial boundaries.
The changes will allow New Brunswickers to purchase alcohol directly from other provinces and bring it into the province without personal exemption limits.
The legislation also permits New Brunswick producers to sell alcohol directly to other provinces, fostering greater market access.
Premier Susan Holt supports the initiative, highlighting consumer demand for products like B.C. wines and New Brunswick craft beers.
The reforms come as the U.S.-Canada trade war escalates, with New Brunswick forecasting a $549-million deficit and allocating $50 million to mitigate tariff impacts.