Ontario has signed a new interprovincial agreement that will allow consumers to buy alcoholic beverages directly from producers in participating provinces and have them shipped to their homes.
Premier Doug Ford joined the premiers of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador in signing the agreement Tuesday. The deal removes a long-standing trade barrier by allowing direct-to-consumer sales of beer, wine, cider and spirits for personal use.
The agreement, co-led by Ontario and Saskatchewan, builds on a bilateral arrangement Ontario reached with Nova Scotia earlier this year and takes effect immediately.
Ford said the agreement comes at a time when Canada needs to strengthen its internal economy.
“In the face of President Trump’s latest tariffs, it’s more important than ever that Team Canada work together to build a more united, resilient and self-reliant Canadian economy,” Ford said.
Until now, Ontarians could generally only purchase alcohol from another province if it was listed by the LCBO, ordered through the LCBO’s Private Ordering Program or transported back to Ontario personally after purchase.
Under the new agreement, producers in participating provinces can apply for authorization through the LCBO to sell directly to Ontario consumers through online ordering, with products delivered to customers’ homes. Ontario wineries, breweries and distilleries will also be able to reach consumers in the other participating provinces through the same process.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the agreement will help create new markets for Ontario producers while giving consumers more choice.
The agreement was signed in Charlottetown ahead of the Council of the Federation summer meeting and fulfills a commitment made by Canada’s premiers earlier this year to reduce barriers to internal trade.
Ontario says the province will continue working with other provinces and territories to eliminate internal trade barriers as part of efforts to unlock an estimated $200 billion in economic growth across Canada.
