The Alberta government is being urged to scrap its craft beer tax after a trade panel ruled the levy is illegal. On Friday, a three-member panel ruled the Government of Alberta’s Small Brewers Development Program does not comply with the province’s free trade obligations under Canada’s Agreement on Internal Trade.
Today, an expert panel convened pursuant to the dispute resolution process of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) ruled that the Government of Alberta’s Small Brewers Development Program, which discriminates against out-of-province craft beers, does not comply with the province’s free trade obligations under Canada’s Agreement on Internal Trade. The
On Monday, President Trump urged Republicans to “do the right thing” and repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, legislation that extended health-care coverage to millions. The “right thing?” many Canadians are surely wondering, incredulously, given how thoroughly we’ve convinced ourselves of the merits of our own universal health care
New Brunswickers are now enjoying significantly lower beer prices thanks to Gerard Comeau, his team of pro bono lawyers and the Canadian Constitution Foundation. Where a 24-can pack of beer like Budweiser or Coors used to cost $43, it’s now only $36. That’s because, last spring, a New Brunswick court
Who would have guessed that the question of what kind of beer Canadians enjoy and the reason for this long weekend are so clearly entwined with constitutional declarations made 150 years ago. Canadians can raise a glass to our founders this weekend, and make a toast to their support of
Once again, Alberta’s NDP government is in a familiar position: defending the constitutionality of their craft brewery policy. While many Albertans might agree with the general idea of favouring local brewers or promoting the local industry — or even fighting fire with fire when it comes to protectionist policies —
If you’re on vacation abroad somewhere this summer and find yourself explaining to people over dinner what makes Canada so unique and special, use the story about Gerard Comeau and his beer run back in 2012. There is no more Canadian story than that. Comeau is a Canadian who, looking
Until a few years ago, the main concern in the Canadian debate over health policy was how to control costs. When provinces managed to restrain health-care spending growth to an average rate below that of the economy as a whole (since 2010), that concern subsided somewhat; we had “bent the
What motivated Finance Minister Joe Ceci to impose a discriminatory tax on out-of-province beer back in October 2015? Was it to diversify the Alberta economy while leveling the playing field for the local brewing industry, as he later claimed? Internal government documents filed with the court in connection with Steam
