New alcohol deal could bring more Canadian beer, wine and spirits to Kingston homes

Premier Doug Ford and the premiers of eight other provinces signed a direct-to-consumer alcohol sales agreement on Monday.

Kingston-area consumers will soon have more options when buying Canadian beer, wine, cider and spirits under a new agreement removing interprovincial trade barriers.

Premier Doug Ford and the premiers of eight other provinces signed a direct-to-consumer alcohol sales agreement Monday in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

The participating provinces are British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The agreement took effect immediately and allows (Market) residents to purchase alcoholic beverages directly from approved producers in participating provinces for personal use.

Breweries, wineries and distilleries can apply for authorization from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to sell their products online and deliver them directly to homes across Ontario.

Consumers in the other participating provinces will also be able to order directly from approved Ontario producers, creating potential new markets for Kingston and area alcohol manufacturers.

Ford said the agreement will give Canadian businesses access to more customers while offering shoppers greater choice and convenience.

The deal was co-led by Ontario and Saskatchewan and follows commitments made by provincial and territorial leaders to reduce internal trade barriers.

Before the agreement, residents generally could not order alcohol directly from a producer in another province. Products had to be listed by the LCBO, purchased through its private ordering program or brought back by the purchaser.

Ontario and Nova Scotia signed a similar agreement in March 2026.

The province said the expanded deal could support smaller breweries, wineries and distilleries that may not have their products available in stores across the country.

The Ontario government estimates internal trade barriers are holding back as much as $200 billion in potential economic activity.

Provincial leaders say they will continue working to make trade within Canada easier.

Story by KingstonDaily.ca Staff