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\n\t\t\t\tNo plan to send Canadian military troops to protect border, minister says<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n
\u201cA mutual recognition pilot project is already in motion, with seven provinces and three territories on board. If the remaining three provinces \u2013 British Columbia, Quebec and New Brunswick \u2013 step up and join, we could see real economic benefits. The government of Canada estimates [this would give] a $200-billion boost to Canada\u2019s economy,\u201d Zalazar said.<\/p>\n
Darby said this would not necessarily mean falling professional standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cCanada\u2019s been involved in mutual recognition regulations with Europe and U.S. for years and years. It doesn\u2019t tend to be the lowest common denominator [that is accepted]. It tends to be who has the best regulation, which is the most comprehensive and is the fairest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\tWhat about alcohol sales?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Some experts say one sector where consumers often feel the effects of those barriers is the sale and purchase of alcohol across provincial lines.<\/p>\n
Some provinces, however, are changing course.<\/p>\n
Starting this month, wineries in B.C. can now directly ship wine to consumers in Alberta, the result of an interprovincial deal that was agreed to last year.<\/p>\n
The process allows Albertans to order wine from more than 300 B.C. wineries in exchange for the Alberta government getting its share of applicable taxes.<\/p>\n
The agreement will run for one year and will be evaluated.<\/p>\n
Premier David Eby said in a statement that the new direct-to-consumer program is \u201ca win\u201d for wineries and for communities that rely on the industry.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBy working collaboratively with Alberta, we\u2019re supporting economic growth and strengthening ties between our provinces,\u201d Eby said in a press release.<\/p>\n
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Michelle Wasylyshen, president and CEO of Ontario Craft Wineries, said with the \u2018Buy Canadian\u2019 sentiment growing, now was the time to make alcohol trade between provinces easier.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything that can be done to reduce barriers for VQA wines is long overdue. As a first step, we support consumers\u2019 ability to order Canadian VQA wine directly to their homes \u2014 wherever the winery is and wherever they live in Canada,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Larkin said making it easier to transport intermediary goods across provinces will help consumers.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of Canadian barley goes to Canadian craft breweries and distilleries. But a lot of those processing plants, be they breweries or distilleries, are hampered by some of our internal trade barriers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThat\u2019s why when you go to the liquor store, you\u2019re seeing a lot of American products. What we would love to see is more Canadian products.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n