Nine provincial premiers have reached an agreement to eliminate major barriers to interprovincial alcohol sales, allowing distillers and brewers to sell directly to consumers across provincial lines effective immediately.
The accord fulfills a memorandum from June 2025 in which all ten provinces and Yukon pledged to open direct‑to‑consumer sales, a market previously heavily restricted or prohibited.
Quebec and Yukon did not sign the current deal; both indicated they will work toward participation in the future.
British Columbia requires additional time to finalize regulations and expects implementation by February.
The Northwest Territories and Nunavut expressed support for reducing trade barriers but remain excluded due to territorial‑specific alcohol restrictions that reflect community cultural values.
The agreement follows recent U.S. tariff measures on Canadian alcohol, prompting provinces to facilitate domestic trade as an alternative market.
A joint statement from the signing premiers emphasized a continued commitment to collaborate with each other and the federal government to remove barriers, strengthen the economy, and unlock Canada’s economic potential.
Ontario’s premier reaffirmed the province’s ban on U.S. alcohol products and criticized the tariff policy as overly aggressive.
