MPs officially pass Bill C-311

A bill seeking to amend a Prohibition-era law that makes it illegal for consumers to transport liquor across provincial boundaries cleared a key hurdle Wednesday.

Members of Parliament unanimously passed Bill C-311 in the House of Commons. The private member’s bill was introduced this past October by Dan Albas, MP for Okanagan-Coquihalla, a riding located in British Columbia’s wine country.

The bill's goal is to alter the 1928 Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act. Under this post-Prohibition act, it is technically illegal for anyone to carry liquor such as a bottle of wine across provincial boundaries. Shipping wine from a winery to a residence in another province is also illegal.

The next step for the bill is Senate approval.

“We are optimistic that the Senate will put an end to this prohibition-era law and endorse Bill C-311 before the busy summer tourist season,” stated Dan Paszkowski, President and CEO of the Canadian Vintners Association.

“In a market dominated 3-to-1 by imported wine sales, we applaud all members of Parliament and Free My Grapes, a national grassroots coalition of wine lovers, who have actively worked to remove restrictions that prohibit consumers from purchasing wines directly from their favourite Canadian wineries,” said Paszkowski.   

Approval would remove federal restrictions that prevent Canadians from transporting alcohol between provinces for personal consumption. Some provincial restrictions, though, could still stand in the way. The bill states individuals will be able to get wine “as permitted by the laws of the latter province.” The liquor monopolies could determine what type of laws must be obeyed, including the collection of taxes on imported bottles.

A few details have yet to be nailed down, including in what quantity of alcohol individuals would be able to bring to their home province.

The passage of the bill has the potential to generate new revenues for wineries and the provinces, while boosting tourism and satisfying consumer demand for direct shipments from wineries across Canada.

Photo by Tequila Partners