Latest news with #ServiceAlberta
Calgary Herald
6 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Alberta cuts red tape around gaming, liquor and cannabis regulations
A cannabis infused cocktail created by mixologist James Mulholland in a downtown Edmonton test kitchen on May 25, 2023. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia, file Alberta has taken another swipe at reducing red tape by giving rural breweries and cannabis growers the freedom to sell their wares directly to customers. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The province announced 'red tape reduction changes' to the gaming, liquor and cannabis regulations in a July 2 news release. The changes are intended to 'directly open more opportunities for small manufacturers to grow their businesses.' 'This was actually a classic example of the need for red tape reduction,' said Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, who added that the changes were developed as the result of multiple red tape reduction roundtables between the province and liquor and cannabis producers. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again The changes will permit small liquor producers to operate party bike tours while serving their brand's products. Additionally, businesses that own or lease large buildings can dedicate a segment of their space to create a separate liquor store as long as they meet certain conditions. The new regulations also give Alberta's cannabis cultivators and growers the freedom to provide 'farm gate' sales, allowing customers to buy cannabis right from the grower instead of at a retail store. Nally said the issue of party bike licensing was brought to his attention by a small-town brewery owner who offered party bike tours, but was not allowed to sell their own brewery's beer on the tours. ' They could operate the bike and sell their competitors' beer, but not their own,' Nally said, ' So we just cut the red tape and we made it easier.' In practical terms, breweries are now allowed to attain a public conveyance licence, which permits the sale and consumption of liquor in public vehicles licensed to operate in Alberta, according to the AGLC. Urban Pedal Tours co-owner Michael Moice says the changes likely won't impact breweries in Edmonton and Calgary, where his company's tours operate, but will be more important in rural areas like Red Deer and Medicine Hat, where some breweries do operate party bikes. Moice feels the changes are 'g ood for competition in general,' but that the new policy may still be too restrictive for smaller breweries. ' I do think it's a little restrictive if they're only allowed to sell their products. It may not hinder medium-sized breweries, but for the smaller ones, it may hurt their bottom line. '
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alberta, Saskatchewan to resume buying US alcohol
Canada's Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces have started allowing the sale of US alcohol again. In March, Canadian provinces started removing US products from liquor store shelves in the midst of an ongoing tariff spat with the country. In a statement sent to Just Drinks yesterday (12 June), Dave Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, confirmed Alberta had removed restrictions on US alcohol purchases. "The decision sets the stage for more constructive negotiations ahead of a Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement renewal, potentially leading to increased trade opportunities and economic growth for Alberta," he said. A spokesperson for Minister Nally's office also confirmed Saskatchewan's resumption of US alcohol purchases. Just Drinks has contacted the Saskatchewan province to confirm the news. Minister Nally said Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney was making "a clear effort to reset the relationship with the US administration, and Alberta's government supports this approach". He added: "Alberta has always supported a proportionate response to US tariffs and recognises that any tariffs imposed have a negative impact on consumers, business, and industry. "However, Alberta's fully private liquor model distinguishes it from other provinces, resulting in different applications and outcomes from trade measures. Further, the US has also refrained from restricting the import of Canadian products." While both provinces have resumed purchases, Canada still has a 25% tariff in place on US alcohol imports. According to Canada's The Globe and Mail, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters at a conference Monday (9 June) that the province would not be buying US alcohol until US President Donald Trump pulled tariffs on Canadian goods. At the same event, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston also reportedly said: 'We're not putting the U.S. booze on the shelves in Nova Scotia.' Navigate the shifting tariff landscape with real-time data and market-leading analysis. . "Alberta, Saskatchewan to resume buying US alcohol" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Calgary Herald
07-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Alberta gives U.S. liquor imports thumbs-up
Stores in Alberta can now sell newer American liquor products after a provincial agency ended a three-month pause ignited by a tariff dispute between Canada and the U.S. Article content The directive came from the province as Canada shifts its approach from retaliating to negotiating with its southern neighbour on economic policies. Article content Article content Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally, in a statement on Friday night, said the government's decision heralds a 'renewed commitment to open and fair trade with our largest partner.' Article content Article content 'The decision sets the stage for more constructive negotiations ahead of a Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement renewal, potentially leading to increased trade opportunities and economic growth for Alberta,' Nally added. Article content Article content The decision concerns liquor products registered with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis agency (AGLC) and declared to the Canada Border Services Agency. A 25 per cent surtax will continue to be levied on those items shipped from the U.S. after March 4 and will be collected by the provincial agency. Article content Article content Ravinder Singh, a manager at ACE Liquor Discounters Edmonton Trail, said the decision likely won't affect the store's sales, as the shop's inventory still holds enough stock of older American products. Article content The move to ban the sale of American liquor was made in early March amid escalating trade tensions. Article content Article content 'If the Americans aren't going to buy products from our Canadian companies, we have to,' Premier Danielle Smith said at the time. Article content 'That means we should be buying more Canadian beer, more Canadian spirits and more Canadian wine. And so that's the reality of what we're facing.' Article content The ban was lifted March 18, but the sales were confined to AGLC's central locations. Article content Singh said the demand for American products dropped after March owing to a wave of patriotism across the country. Whereas the store sold them daily, the products are now being bought twice or thrice a week, even three months after the pause.
Globe and Mail
05-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Alberta scraps beer tax hike, citing Trump's tariffs and desire to support Canadian business
Alberta's government has ditched a new fee schedule for breweries that would have seen the province's oldest beer maker pay significantly more in taxes. The schedule, introduced in February after Alberta tabled its budget, substantially lowered the production threshold breweries needed to meet before they paid the highest fee to the government, while also adjusting the production limits and fees building up to the cap. Before the change, breweries were able to produce 400,000 hectolitres – or 40-million litres – before they paid $1.25 per litre, which is the cap. The schedule in February lowered that threshold to 18-million litres. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said at the time the lower limit would even the playing field for small breweries and that '99 per cent' of companies wouldn't pay more. Calgary-based Big Rock Brewery, Alberta's oldest and biggest craft beer producer, was one of the few that didn't fall under the 99 per cent. The company calculated it was going to pay about $1.4-million more to the government in fees every year. In a statement Thursday, Nally's office said the government has abandoned the new fee schedule and installed again a higher production threshold and more gradual fee increases beneath it. 'In light of the impacts of U.S. tariffs, continued trade uncertainty and the importance of working collectively as a country to support Canadian businesses, additional adjustments to the small brewer markup rates are needed,' said Nally's press secretary Brandon Aboultaif. 'We are increasing the threshold to qualify for reduced markup rates and making the transition to the standard markup rate more gradual as small brewers continue to grow their businesses.' Aboultaif didn't answer questions about whether the change was made in light of the disproportionate impact the schedule was having on Big Rock or if the system wasn't protecting small brewers as Nally had said it would. As of June 1, the production limit has been raised to 30-million litres, and Aboultaif said the fee ladder is more gradual. This means the vast majority of Alberta breweries won't pay as much per litre of beer they make. Brad Goddard, vice-president of business development and government relations for Big Rock, lauded the reversal. He said it came after productive conversations that Big Rock had with Nally, the provincial liquor regulator and other government ministers. Goddard added the change couldn't have come at a better time. 'Every week of summertime beer sales – this makes our year,' said Goddard. He explained companies pay the fees as they produce, so when Big Rock and others kick-start production for summer, they'll be paying the lower rate. Goddard said it's also a timing win, because this week U.S. President Donald Trump hiked tariffs on aluminum to 50 per cent from 25 per cent. 'The Alberta government took a step that will help us navigate those challenging tariff waters, and for that I'm very grateful,' he said, adding aluminum cans are one of Big Rock's biggest input costs. 'This reduction in the markup will help us manage that at a really key time.' Even though the outgoing fee schedule was in place for three months, Goddard said the company paid roughly $400,000 more in provincial taxes than it would have before. He said the company isn't dwelling on the hit, as the government's reversal is 'largely a restoration of some of the previous opportunity.' Beer Canada, which represents breweries of all sizes, had celebrated the February schedule, describing it at the time as a step toward equity for 'truly smaller scale craft brewers' in Alberta. The agency's five board of directors are all executives for some of the largest beer companies in the country, including the president of Molson Coors Canada. Beer Canada's vice-president of strategic communications, Karine Cousineau, said in an e-mail the group understands Alberta's reasoning for a reversal but it still wants to see the province implement 'permanent broad-based beer tax relief for all Canadian brewers, our hospitality partners and Alberta beer consumers.' The executive director of the Alberta Small Brewers Association, Blair Berdusco, said the group is more than happy to see the turnaround. '(It) definitely improves the future outlook for the industry and potential for how breweries can continue their brands going forward.' Berdusco said the 30-million-litre threshold is a win for the industry compared to what was in place, especially since the association and other craft brewery groups across Canada are pushing for all provinces to follow Saskatchewan in having a 50-million-litre limit. 'It's great to see that (Nally) took a look at what's going on and has recognized the value in trying to make things more equal and more alike across provincial lines,' Berdusco said.
CBC
05-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Alberta government walks back beer tax hike citing tariffs, need to support business
Alberta's government has ditched a new fee schedule for breweries that would have seen the province's oldest beer maker pay significantly more in taxes. The schedule was introduced in February and it substantially lowered the production threshold breweries needed to hit before they had to pay higher fees to the government. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said at the time that the fee hike was supposed to protect small breweries and that "99 per cent" of companies wouldn't pay more. Calgary-based Big Rock Brewery didn't fall under the 99 per cent, and the company calculated it was going to pay $1.4 million more every year. Nally's office says the government decided to lower the fees in light of U.S. tariffs and to ensure small breweries are supported as they grow. The province replaced the fee system as of June 1 in favour of a schedule of more gradual increases.
