Ottawa – Cathy McLeod, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue spoke in support of a Private Members’ Bill that calls for changes to the interprovincial importation of wine for personal use.

Bill C-311, An Act to amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, is sponsored by Dan Albas, the Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Coquihalla.

“Bill C-311 would ensure that provinces maintain the ability to set policy regarding provincial exemptions on wine importation,” said McLeod. “They will be free to enhance or expand the interprovincial trade in wine as they see fit.”

“The bill is fundamentally about giving consumers greater choice. Currently, Canadians do not have easy access to made-in Canada wines, which are internationally recognized as being the best in the world. Even though Canadian wines win awards around the globe, they are often not available outside the provinces in which they are produced. Liquor boards have limited shelf space and have tried to expand choice through private order programs, but they can be slow and costly,” said McLeod.

“These costs are also a deterrent to the wine industry, especially small and medium-sized businesses trying to get a foothold in the marketplace. These fledgling firms need our support, not government interference. Of all the arguments in favour of Bill C-311, few matter more to business people than the potential economic spinoffs of this legislation. This is particularly true in British Columbia, one of the most important wine regions in Canada,” stated McLeod.

“Consumers of domestic wines should not be short-changed by the outdated Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, a problem that this private member's bill will finally address. For the first time in nearly a century, it will be possible for wine producers to sell their products openly and freely into other provinces in keeping with provincial laws. Unlike the 1920s, they have access to modern technologies like the Internet that make such sales simple and cost-effective. At the click of a mouse, even the most discerning wine palate could be satisfied with an award winning wine produced by Canadian vintners,” said McLeod.

“I am calling on all members to lend their support to this worthy and long overdue legislative change. Canada's wine makers are counting on it,” concluded McLeod.