Alberta shrugs off B.C. legal challenge on wine ban
EDMONTON – Alberta’s economic development minister is shrugging off a legal challenge filed by British Columbia over Alberta’s ban on wine from that province.
On Monday, B.C. announced it is invoking dispute settlement of the wine ban under Canada’s free-trade agreement.
The mechanism calls for four months of consultation and, if that doesn’t work, an arbitration panel takes over.
Deron Bilous says Alberta won’t participate in consultations unless B.C. reverses its decision to refuse additional oil from Alberta while it studies spill safety.