Love B.C. wine? Cross-border wine shopping could be a reality as early as this summer

Canada is taking a few more baby steps toward loosening the straight-jacket of its liquor laws. A private member’s bill introduced by Conservative MP Dan Albas should, if all goes according to plan, amend the sections of the stodgy, 84-year old “Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act” that ban the transport of wine past provincial borders. It’s like free trade for wine (among the provinces at least, and for non-commercial use). The bill hasn’t been without setbacks: the NDP is a little embarrassed for praising the bill so much that they delayed its passage through Parliament. But not to worry, both the right and the left enjoy the odd glass of vino and should get the thing off to the senate for next week. Albas, who represents Okanagan-Coquihalla (a.k.a. B.C. wine country), hopes it will receive royal assent in time for the tourist season, so that visitors from other provinces can take back a bottle of gewürztraminer without feeling like bootleggers (and breaking the law). What with last summer’s slight easing of liquor laws regarding festivals, weddings and charity events, things are feeling practically European around here. Well, almost.  [Globe and Mail]