Seeking clarity
Our legal system depends on clarity in decisions. When confusion exists, there is a higher body: the Supreme Court. Today, the SCC released the decree that should settle a major question for Canadians. The question: “Is it legal to buy cheaper beer in a neighbouring province and bring it back home?”
The unanimous response: “that provinces and territories have the constitutional right to restrict the importation of goods across provincial and territorial borders — as long as the primary aim of the restriction is not to impede trade.”
Wait; what? Go ahead, crack a beer and search for clarity. Stare through the bottle, if it helps (although you’d best wait for the lees to settle back to the bottom.
Turns out, even though we live in a single country, it is technically a confederation. Each member has the right to set regulations on behalf of its OWN citizens, and if it means maintaining the monopoly of a provincial liquor control board over pricing, that‘s small potatoes. In fact, even small potatoes are regulated.
This decision is not going to sit well with a large group of folks. The beer drinkers. The beer producers. The beer sellers (ignoring the elephant in the room, the LCC of any given province). I can see this issue rearing its beery head again. Long before the country decides to split apart, the price of ales and lagers across the border (interprovincial, not international) is going to demand modification. Access to cheap suds, or we’re going to separate! Start getting your banners, tees and mugs printed up now.
