Sask. government calls Alta. beer policy ruling a ‘big win’
The Saskatchewan government is calling a recent ruling against an Alberta beer policy a big win for free trade within Canada.
In August 2016, the Alberta government moved place a $1.25 per litre markup on beer no matter the size, location or level of production of a company. The policy change also came with grants to small, Alberta-based producers.
In June of this year, Calgary-based beer importer Artisan Ales argued before a panel set up under the Agreement on Internal Trade.
The company stated that the rebate program “discriminated against the beer it brought in from other provinces and had a major negative impact on its business.”