Opinion: Premier Smith's wine tax isn't 'Canada First' — it's politics first
When Premier Danielle Smith stood beside B.C. Premier David Eby in May 2024 and announced a new agreement to allow direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine shipping from B.C. into Alberta, many of us in the Canadian wine industry applauded. For the first time in years, it felt like provinces were putting Canadians — and common sense — ahead of bureaucracy and trade barriers.
That optimism was short-lived.
What Alberta's government did in the months that followed has undermined that agreement and added new costs to Alberta consumers. Worse, it was done quietly — during a time of global tariff uncertainty — under the cover of a foreign trade dispute.
Let's walk through what happened:
May 2024: Alberta and B.C. agreed to reopen DTC wine shipping. It was heralded as a return to fairness and free interprovincial trade.
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April 1, 2025: Alberta added a new ad valorem tax — a percentage-based fee tied to the price of the wine. This wasn't part of the original agreement. It mirrors Alberta's wholesale markup, erasing the savings and simplicity that DTC wine was supposed to offer.
What was the justification?
Premier Smith's government pointed to the Trump administration's reimposition of U.S. tariffs on Canadian wine and other goods. But let's be clear: instead of shielding Canadian businesses from international instability, Alberta used those U.S. tariffs as an excuse to introduce a new tax on B.C. wineries and to raise costs for Alberta residents who want to buy directly.
This is not leadership. It's a bait-and-switch.
Albertans deserve to know the truth: your government made a public promise of access and fairness, then reversed course behind closed doors. The ad valorem tax introduced in April undermines the very spirit of the DTC agreement. It hurts Alberta consumers and penalizes B.C. producers trying to build direct relationships with wine lovers like you.
You can still buy wine directly from B.C. wineries — but now you'll pay more than promised. And we'll get less than we should.
This issue is bigger than wine. It speaks to how governments treat their agreements, their business partners, and —most importantly —their citizens. I urge Albertans to demand better from their leaders. Let's stop using international tensions as cover to quietly roll out new taxes on Canadians.
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