From the CBC – latest developments on Bill C-311
1. The Conservative government is backing a proposal by a B.C. backbencher, Dan Albas to allow Canadians to buy wine outside their province and take it home.
2. NDP MP Malcolm Allen says the party has offered to let Albas trade his next private members’ business slot for one of their MPs’ time so they can get the bill passed.
It’s currently illegal, with a few exceptions, to carry alcohol over interprovincial boundaries. Tory MP Albas, who represents Okanagan-Coquihalla, introduced Bill C-311 on Oct. 3, 2011.
The bill allow people to import wine for personal use from one province to another, as long as it conforms with the laws of the province in which it ends up.
The law was created during the prohibition era when alcohol consumption was banned.
1. Gail Shea, national revenue minister, announced the government’s support for the bill on Tuesday. She said the current law stifles the growth of Canada’s wine industry.
Changing the law, Albas says, gets the federal government out of the way and allows for individual provinces to consult with their industry and consumers to set their own laws.
Right now, it’s hard for small wineries to sell to provincial liquor boards because they can’t produce enough, but they’re only able to sell within their own province. Albas pointed to a B.C. winery that does a lot of business with China because it can’t sell to Canadians outside the province.
“I think most people would say that that’s not okay,” Albas said.
The bill was debated Tuesday and will return for a vote the next time it comes up on the House agenda, likely in late September or October, after time ran out to hold a vote on it.
Albas says he’s disappointed it didn’t go to a vote last night, accusing the NDP of stalling the bill.
2. The NDP say there was a “miscommunication” about parliamentary procedure and that they didn’t intend to talk out the time allotted. NDP MP Malcolm Allen says the party has offered to let Albas trade his next private members’ business slot for one of their MPs’ time so they can get the bill passed. Albas says he’s only had an informal offer so far.
Allen says because liquor control falls under provincial control, federal politicians would have to talk to their counterparts before moving to repeal the whole prohibition, which now includes several exemptions.
“We’re in a sort of place where we can repeal this particular part of it and the wineries and vintners are all very supportive of that particular piece that allows them to do some selling and marketing across provincial boundaries and enhance their businesses,” he said.
“That’s satisfactory for them. So that was the whole reason to make sure that we made this first step.”
Picture supplied by wikipedia – Thanks to the CBC for their files.
Well if you’re looking for the money, don’t look any farther than the liquor boards, and get on twitter if you think this was just a local issue. And it was a filibuster as delay prevented passage.
Publisher: Cannot argue with you Bill – you are never wrong.
Lionel: A fillibuster is not fair debate. And to suggest that I do not understand politics is an indication of your bias. Please tell me how the conservatives were not “getting along” specific to this bill. Perhaps the conservatives are guilty of engaging in a debate with fools?
Publisher: Lionel – find me a person without a bias and I will show you someone asleep. None of us are objective. I try but fail often. The NDP has apologized. The Liberal have stepped in and the Tories (Albas party) could have brought in government legislation and passed it. They didn’t and left their MP with a private members bill which are normally doomed to fail. As to a filibuster: the usual meaning is an all day all night attempt to stop a government bill. Don’t think this was that – story got local attention not national focus.
I am prepared to let the dust settle. It is a tempest in a wine glass – something to divert our attention away from the fact it is a slow newsday.
It is unfortunate that politicians of all stripes are elected by the constituents, yet are hobbled by their “masters” in such a way that the opinion and desire of the constituency is not honoured. At election time, we end up voting not for the best candidate or party, but for which candidate or party will do the least amount of damage to the province or the country. Of course, promises made seldom bring about results guaranteed.
I look forward to our MP’s next column in the local paper, outlining how he is so hard at work for the people who elected him to office.
Too funny…Canadian politics of course. Our politicians never came out of puberty, it appears. Is there hope? not utill they experience “real life” instead of seeking a career!
It’s a lot deeper than that “publisher”. Follow the money.
Publisher: Going for a brew at welcome inn – Bill (“reader”) – I am all ears looking for the money.
“Miscommunication” is exactly the reason why little, to nothing gets done in this Parliament. Even with a Conservative majority, the NDP practice underhanded tactics to derail Government, and stifle democracy. Shame indeed.
Publisher: No arguements in bed I guess. To say the NDP use underhanded tactics tells me you have no idea how politics work. This whole story is more about not getting along (both sides) rather than the issue which I think we all support.
Bad on you Alex Adamenenko! Stop towing the party line and stand-up for your neighbours, friends and constituents.
Miscommunication? Really? They don’t understand Parliamentary Process? And they want to govern?
This was deliberate. Our own MP Alex Adamenenko was one of the speakers that went on and on.
A cheap political shot only to prevent the Cons from saying they are getting things done.