Ottawa, provinces agree to open the tab on Canadian booze

Ottawa has reached a deal with the majority of provinces to allow Canadian booze to flow more freely across the country just as U.S. liquor is pulled from their store shelves. 

The move is part of a host of changes being worked on by the federal, provincial and territorial governments that were announced late Wednesday to add $200 billion to the Canadian economy while it's rocked by U.S. tariffs. 

"This is unprecedented action to reduce trade barriers in Canada," Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand told CBC News.

"This is a pivotal moment for Canada to take bold and united action in the face of the United States' unjustified decision to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods."

All provinces, except P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador, have agreed to remove the obstacles preventing their alcohol from being sold in other jurisdictions. 

The provincial governments are expected to seal the agreement in a framework within weeks, which Anand said will lead to more Canadian alcohol sales soon after that.

"Buying B.C. wine in Ottawa is going to become a reality, because we are going to see trade barriers come down in Canada," she said. 

Canada-wide credential recognition for all professions 

The federal, provincial and territorial governments are also working toward recognizing certified professionals no matter where they received their credentials in Canada.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, the first ministers directed the committee on Internal Trade — which is responsible for implementing the Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) — to develop a Canada-wide credential recognition plan by June 1. 

WATCH | The path to nixing internal trade barriers: 

Federal minister suggests interprovincial trade barriers could disappear quickly

29 days ago

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Anita Anand told reporters the decades-old issue could be eliminated within a month. That's how long U.S. President Donald Trump has delayed imposing tariffs he has threatened on Canadian imports. Jean Laroche has the story.

Anand said every profession will be brought under the new structure, but it will be up to provinces and territories to decide which jobs to prioritize. 

Quebec is behind the move, but the province is expected to adopt the new measures differently since it has linguistic considerations.

Along with recognizing labour credentials, the premiers are launching negotiations to allow goods certified in one province to be bought or sold in another without additional red tape, excluding food. 

The provinces and territories are also reviewing their exceptions under the CFTA to see how many they can eliminate by June 1 to encourage more trade and opportunity. Ottawa recently announced the removal of more than half of the remaining federal exceptions.