Letter in Support of Bill C260

January 27, 2021
Mr. Dan Albas
Member of Parliament
Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola
Dan.albas@parl.gc.ca
 
Mr. Albas:

The South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce writes to you today to express our support for your private Member’s Bill C-260, tabled in the House of Commons on December 8, 2020. Thank you for your continued efforts to support Okanagan business.  We are also in support of the e-Petition in the House of Commons authored by the President of the Summerland Chamber, Ron Kubek, CEO of Lightning Rock Winery, to encourage the passage of C-260.

This bill, which asks the Government to allow out-of-province beer, wine, and spirit sales through a change in the Canada Post Act, would act as a catalyst for BC’s and the Okanagan’s liquor industries. Given the large number of wineries, breweries and distilleries in our region we know the positive impact that passage of this bill would have on local businesses, especially in light of the pandemic affecting so many. 

Our colleagues at the Kelowna Chamber authored a policy, both provincially and federally, Addressing Barriers to Interprovincial Trade, which noted the negative impact of provincial barriers, and recommended that the federal government conduct a full review with a specific focus on the removal of barriers to inter-provincial trade in wine, beer, and spirits.

This policy received overwhelming support from chambers across the country at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM in Thunder Bay, and we look forward to seeing the initiative move forward.
Mr. Albas, thank you again for your work on this file. We hope bill C-260 finds support across all party lines.

Sincerely,

Greg Sol, Chair
South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce
Box 1414
Oliver, BC V0H 1T0
250-498-6321
manager@sochamber.ca
 
cc. MP Richard Cannings, South Okanagan-West Kootenay
MLA Roly Russell, Boundary-Similkameen
Ron Kubek, Chair, Summerland Chamber of Commerce
Mayor McKortoff and Council, Town of Osoyoos
Mayor Johansen and Council, Town of Oliver
RDOS Director Obirek, Area D Skaha East and Okanagan Falls
 
 
The South Okanagan Chamber is a regional business and community development organization representing members in the Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos areas.  Supporting our local, rural communities since 1947.