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Canadian premiers agree to allow direct-to-consumer alcohol sales across most provinces

Nine premiers sign landmark agreement
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Alcohol
The deal announced by the Internal Trade Secretariat builds on the commitment made in the June 2025 Memorandum of Understanding. 

Nine Canadian premiers have signed a landmark agreement to implement direct-to-consumer sales of alcoholic beverages between jurisdictions.

As of Wednesday (July 22), Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are implementing DTC sales. 

The deal announced by the Internal Trade Secretariat builds on the commitment made in the June 2025 Memorandum of Understanding. 

Other signatories to the 2025 MOU, Quebec and Yukon, have worked with the new signatories to develop the terms of the agreement, the Internal Trade Secretariat said. 

READ: Breaking down interprovincial trade barriers: What's in it for the food sector?

The Internal Trade Secretariat provides administrative and operational support to the functioning of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement

Quebec and Yukon are in the process of establishing the infrastructure to implement DTC in their jurisdictions. They are expected to sign on to the new agreement in the near future. 

The Yukon will be taking steps to implement DTC and is working with its dry communities to ensure their preferences are reflected. 

Manitoba and New Brunswick allowed DTC sales on all alcohol products prior to this agreement. Nova Scotia and British Columbia also allowed DTC for Canadian wine, with British Columbia continuing to allow these DTC wine sales from all provinces and territories. Ontario and Nova Scotia signed a bilateral DTC operating agreement in March 2026, and Alberta and British Columbia also have an agreement on DTC sale of wine.

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