Premier David Eby said it is B次元官网网址渞eally hard to understandB次元官网网址� why Alberta is restricting the direct sale of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 wine to buyers in that province.

Eby made that comment last week in Vernon when asked about AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 decision against the backdrop of other industry challenges like severe weather.

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis on Jan. 22 told B.C. wineries it wonB次元官网网址檛 stock their products until they immediately agree to cease direct-to-consumer sales.

Eby said Solicitor General Mike Farnworth has reached to his counterpart in Alberta to B次元官网网址渦nderline the importanceB次元官网网址� of the Alberta market for B.C. wine growers.

B次元官网网址淭hey had a good conversation and I hope they will be able to reach resolution on this,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n addition, our government is also committed to support the agricultural industry. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just the grape growers, but also a number of orchardists, who produce fruit from fruit trees and other perennials. These farmers are under huge pressure from the impacts of climate change, everything from the drought to the cold snaps to the intensely hot summers.B次元官网网址�

Roly Russell, New Democratic MLA for Boundary-Similkameen, which includes multiple wineries in and around Oliver, Osoyoos and Keremeos, reiterated this promise of support in pointing to FarnworthB次元官网网址檚 discussion. B次元官网网址淭hat is just the beginning,B次元官网网址� Russell. B次元官网网址淚 know he (Farnworth) is determined to get an outcome that will benefit our wine industry.B次元官网网址�

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Russell, who is also parliamentary secretary for rural development, also pointed to government support for growers dealing with what he called B次元官网网址渃limate-related challengesB次元官网网址� causing the loss of grapes and other crops.

B次元官网网址淟ast year, approximately $27 million in production insurance claims were provided to growers who lost crops due to last winterB次元官网网址檚 freeze,B次元官网网址� Russell said, while acknowledging more needs to be done. B次元官网网址淚n the face of a changing climate, our government is determined to take further steps to support wineries.B次元官网网址�

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon said it is vital for government to address both AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 decision and the pending shortage of grapes before it is too late.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l only know the true impacts of the cold snap in the coming months, but everything points towards a terrible situation for B.C. wine this year,B次元官网网址� Ian Paton, BC UnitedB次元官网网址檚 shadow minister for agriculture, added. B次元官网网址淐ouple that with reckless policies coming out of Alberta that seek to stop all direct-to-consumer B.C. wine sales into their province and you have a perfect storm.B次元官网网址�

Steps demanded by BC United include: the immediate creation of a stakeholder group to identify the financial support necessary for the industry to survive a grape shortage expected to last for the next three to four years: a temporary expansion of existing tax incentives for wines with 100 percent B.C.-grown grapes to include wines produced in B.C. with 100 percent Canadian-grown grapes; and ease the import of grapes and juice from Ontario.

BC United is also calling for an immediate meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

Bill C-311, sponsored by Okanagan-area MP Dan Albas, a long-time critic of interprovincial trade barriers, permits Canadian wine to be delivered from another province free of barriers or tariffs. But only British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia have permitted their residents to do so, according to the industry group Wine of British Columbia.

Alberta, which once permitted to the import of liquor from other provinces for personal consumption, amended its regulations to make imports subject to the policies of its provincial liquor control board.

Miles Prodan, president and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia, has questioned AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 decision in expressing concern that AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 government is targeting B.C. for political gains unrelated to the industry itself.

B次元官网网址淐urrently AGLC jurisdiction is limited to regulating persons and activities within the province,B次元官网网址� Prodan said. B次元官网网址淭he Alberta laws governing (direct-to-consumer) shipping are all designed to regulate consumer activities B次元官网网址� their authority does not extend to BC manufacturers exporting wine into the province.B次元官网网址�

-with files from Canadian Press