The British Columbia Conservative Party is urging the provincial government to follow the example of other provinces and resume the sale of U.S.-made liquor.
Speaking out on behalf of the BC Conservatives, MLA Macklin McCall from West Kelowna-Peachland highlighted the ongoing trade war that has led to American liquor being stockpiled in warehouses without any resolution in sight.
Several provinces, including Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, have already started selling their U.S.-made liquor inventory again after temporarily removing them from store shelves earlier this year.
McCall suggested that the B.C. government find a way to sell off the stockpile and potentially donate the proceeds to local food banks, rather than incurring ongoing storage costs.
While some provinces like Manitoba remain adamant about not importing American liquor, others like Ontario are hesitant to sell off their stockpiles, fearing negative impacts on local producers.
McCall estimated that the value of British Columbia’s stockpile could be in the tens of millions of dollars, emphasizing the potential benefits of redirecting this liquor sale revenue to community charities.
Premier David Eby has yet to provide a response to this proposal, but is expected to address the issue during a media event in Vancouver on Wednesday.
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