Nova Scotia producers will soon be able to ship alcohol to more Canadians.
The provincial government says a new agreement signed at the Council of the Federation meeting in Charlottetown will allow local wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries to sell directly to consumers in seven additional provinces.
The deal includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nova Scotians will also be able to order wine, beer and spirits from producers in those provinces.
The agreement expands on a similar deal Nova Scotia and Ontario signed in March, which the province said was the first direct‑to‑consumer alcohol agreement of its kind.
Ontario is also part of the broader arrangement.
Premier Tim Houston said the move is meant to give people more choice and improve access to Canadian-made products.
“We aren’t just planning for the future; we are fighting back right now,” Houston said in a government release.
He also said the Trump administration has thrown global trade into chaos and that the province refuses to let Nova Scotians pay the price for what he called Washington’s politics.
The agreement applies to all types of beverage alcohol.
The provincial government also stated that Quebec and the Yukon have indicated their support and are expected to sign later.
Karl Coutinho, president and operations manager at Avondale Sky Winery and Restaurant, said Nova Scotia and Ontario have been leaders in direct‑to‑consumer wine sales.
He said interest from Ontario customers has been strong and that the winery hopes to grow sales across Canada as part of its five‑year plan.
CFIB ‘raises glass’ to deal
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says they are raising a glass to the deal.
President Dan Kelley says allowing small producers to ship directly to consumers across provincial borders will help them reach new customers, grow their businesses and give access to more choice.
“This is very welcome news,” says Kelly. “Canada’s independent wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries have waited a long time to see direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping finally become a reality.”
How to navigate agreement
Under the agreements, Nova Scotia consumers must be 19 or older to order alcohol for personal use.
Producers in other provinces must be authorized by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC), and Nova Scotia producers must be approved by regulators in the provinces where they plan to sell.
Applications opened Monday on the NSLC website.
The province says British Columbia expects its system for all alcohol types to be in place by February 2027. Nova Scotia has about 120 licensed beverage alcohol producers.
