REGINA - A short-lived ban on American liquor brands that are made in Canada has been lifted by Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Controversy ensued after the decision was made that 54 American beer and liquor brands that are produced in Canada including Coors, Budweiser, Miller and others, would no longer be sold or distributed in Saskatchewan. The move was in response to the Trump tariffs from the USA. But the inclusion of American brands whose products were produced in Canada sparked a major pushback from several organizations including Beer Canada and Restaurants Canada, on the grounds that Canadians would be adversely impacted.
On Monday news came word that the decision was being reversed. The province issued this statement:
“Government has since heard concerns about some of these products that are produced in Canada. As a result, Saskatchewan is realigning its approach to be consistent with other provinces by focusing on US-produced alcohol and the sale and distribution of 54 Canadian-produced American brands will now resume.”
Minister for SLGA Alana Ross said on Monday the reversal was in line with what stakeholders had been asking for.
“We listened to them and we learned that we weren't really in line with what the other provinces were doing,” Ross said. “... The decision was made that we needed to be in alignment with the other provinces in Canada.”
What it means is the original ban on American brands that are American made will still be in place, but it will no longer extend to those American brands made in Canada.
Ross also said a lesson was learned about the harm that tariffs could bring.
“Tariffs aren't good for anyone, and moving forward in this trade war, we want the tariffs to stop. It was about signalling that it's time, we need the tariffs to stop.”
In speaking to reporters, NDP Leader Carla Beck believed the government should have done more consultation before issuing the ban on American-branded liquor.
“This is the importance of consultation right there,” Beck said. “There are so many concerns right now and we have a government that is consistently failing to consult with those on the front line. They're making mistakes, frankly, because they aren't consulting, and then they have to come in after the fact with reversals.”
Beck adds that she hopes “we don't see this again where the government moves in haste without consulting with those groups and then has to go in and reverse. Let's get it right the first time. Let's get the right folks to the table and let's build solutions, build protections that are going to see people in this province best whether the storm that is upon us and unfortunately continues to threaten us on the horizon.”
