The biggest barrier to Canadian liquor isn't Donald Trump. It's Canada's premiers

The product is Canadian.

The jobs are Canadian.

The grain is Canadian.

Yet Canadians often pay dramatically more than American consumers.

Why?

Because governments have built a system that punishes Canadian producers and Canadian consumers.

Ron Kubek of Lightning Rock Winery has repeatedly exposed the absurdity. He has explained that, in many cases, it is easier and less costly to sell wine into the United States, even facing a 50% tariff, than it is to sell to another Canadian province.
That should outrage every Canadian.

Back in February 2025, Canada's First Ministers promised to tear down interprovincial trade barriers.

Eighteen months later, they gathered again in Charlottetown for another photo opportunity and signed another Memorandum of Understanding.

More headlines.

More handshakes.

More promises.

But where are the results

???????? The biggest barrier to Canadian liquor isn't Donald Trump. It's Canada's premiers.

Can someone explain how this makes any sense?

A bottle of Canadian Club that can cost around $67.50 in Canada can be found in parts of the United States for about $18.99 USD.

The product is… pic.twitter.com/o0tvMT0JWK

— Domenic Cinalli - (Antonio Farese) (@DomenicCinalli)August 2, 2026

The premiers proudly announced expanded direct-to-consumer alcohol sales between provinces, yet the biggest costs remain untouched.

Provincial liquor monopolies.

Wholesale markups.

Excise taxes.

Provincial sales taxes.

Bottle deposits.

Environmental fees.

Licensing costs.

Shipping restrictions.

Layers of government red tape.

That isn't free trade.

It's government-controlled trade.

Meanwhile, premiers continue to blame Donald Trump while ignoring the barriers they themselves created.

If a Canadian winery or distillery can sometimes reach customers in another country more easily than customers in another province, then Canada's internal trade system is fundamentally broken.

The real winners are provincial governments.

British Columbia's Liquor Distribution Branch alone generated more than $1 billion in net income in 2024. Ontario's government liquor system generated even more. These monopolies have become hidden tax machines that governments are reluctant to reform.

### Here is what real leadership would look like:

- Eliminate provincial liquor monopolies and allow open wholesale competition.

- Remove provincial markups on products made in Canada.

- Recognize one licence for all Canadian producers so they can sell coast to coast.

- End duplicate provincial regulations and paperwork.

- Create a true Canadian free market where a bottle produced in British Columbia can be sold as easily in Ontario as it is in British Columbia.

If our premiers are serious about affordability...

If they're serious about supporting Canadian businesses...

If they're serious about standing up to U.S. tariffs...

Then stop signing MOUs and start eliminating the barriers that Canadians created for themselves.

Here's the question:

Who is doing more damage to Canadian wineries, distilleries and consumers today: Donald Trump's tariffs or Canada's own provincial governments?