February 21 2025

When Donald Trump announced punitive tariffs on Canadian goods, publicly owned liquor stores were part of Canada’s response. Every public owned liquor store in Canada was planning to American made products off the shelves before Trump backtracked and put the issue on hold.

Where liquor stores privatized, nothing done to counter Trump tariffs

In contrast, in provinces where liquor stores have been privatized, there were no restrictions on the sale of American made alcoholic beverages. It was business as usual, even though the tariffs are a significant threat to the Canadian economy.

Profits from public liquor stores will be needed to respond to tariffs

When liquor stores are publicly owned, profits go to help fund public services like health care and education. That funding is lost when stores are privately owned.

If Trump does end up imposing punitive tariffs on Canada, helping people and communities that are affected will place additional demands on our provincial governments. And we will need the revenues public stores provide more than ever.

Rules that protect public liquor stores need to be kept in place

With the threat of Trump’s tariffs, there is considerable discussion of reducing barriers between provinces. In many cases, reducing barriers will benefit everyone. However, some of what are being portrayed as barriers are there for a very good reason.

Those who would profit from the privatization of our public liquor stores will be trying to use the dismantling of barriers to push for more privatization. With the role public liquor stores play in standing up for Canada and providing the funds needed for public services like health care, we can’t afford to let them get away with that.