Benjamin Segobaetso – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online August 12, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
CLARENDON– Pontiac Liberal MNA André Fortin is calling on the Quebec government to join the rest of the country in removing barriers to interprovincial alcohol sales, arguing that the move would create new economic opportunities for the province’s craft beverage industry.
Speaking to the Pontiac Journal during a recent Pontiac Chamber of Commerce’s business networking event, Fortin expressed frustration about an agreement reached by Canada’s premiers in Charlottetown, P.E.I., on July 21. Under the agreement, nine provinces committed to modernizing their rules to allow more Canadian brewers, distillers, wineries, and cider producers to sell their products directly to consumers across provincial borders. However, Quebec did not sign the agreement.
Fortin said the decision leaves Quebec producers at a competitive disadvantage and noted that many producers in his riding have expressed to him their disappointment and frustration that Quebec remains the only province outside the agreement.
“People in the Pontiac and across the Outaouais know just how important these interprovincial trade agreements are,” Fortin said. “They know how much our microbreweries, cider producers, wineries, and distilleries could benefit.”
He said the issue is particularly significant in western Quebec, where many businesses are located close to Ontario and rely on cross-border trade and tourism. The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government has said Quebec must first amend some internal trade laws before joining the agreement. Fortin rejected that explanation, arguing the government has had ample time to prepare. “They’ve had well over a year to change the laws, and other provinces have done it,” he said. “Instead of showing leadership, Quebec is being left behind while the rest of the country moves forward.”
Fortin believes opening direct-to-consumer alcohol sales would allow Quebec producers to reach new markets, strengthen local businesses, and stimulate economic growth throughout the province. He criticized the CAQ government’s move to stay on the sidelines, noting that, the move only hurts local producers and the economy.
In an exclusive interview with the Journal, local microbrewery owner, Todd Hoffman of Brauwerk Hoffman in Campbell’s Bay expressed concerns about the fact that Quebec is the only province that has not signed into the sales agreement,
“I am disappointed and wish Quebec would have joined in the agreement,” he stated, elaborating that there are lost opportunities from the new markets advanced by this agreement. Asked if the business community in the region would consider lobbying the province to reconsider its decision, he said they have not yet gathered to decide what avenue to take in regard to the issue.
Although the new agreement was welcome news in other jurisdictions, and a sign that interprovincial alcohol rules are easing, other trade barriers still remain. Provincial regulations continue to impact everything from food to labour to trucking.