The Honourable Doug Ford
Premier of Ontario
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1

April 3, 2025

Dear Premier Ford,

I appreciated your remarks today on CNBC:

“We’d be willing to take those off tomorrow if he (Trump) took all the tariffs off. We are not the problem.”

Your commitment to removing all tariffs in the name of free trade is a strong, welcome message. I couldn’t agree more — Canada shouldn’t be the problem when it comes to trade barriers. But if we truly want to lead by example, shouldn’t we start by eliminating the barriers we impose on each other within our own country?

As the owner of a BC winery, I see firsthand how damaging our internal trade policies are. Wine made in British Columbia and shipped to Ontario is treated no differently than wine from California or France — subject to markups of 70% or more, LCBO import charges, and other “tariff-like” levies. We are Canadian producers, but when our wine crosses a provincial border, it’s treated as if it crossed an ocean.

Premier, if you’re prepared to remove tariffs on U.S. goods “tomorrow,” would you be willing to do the same for wine from British Columbia, if BC agrees to do the same for Ontario wine?
You’ve already demonstrated leadership in modernizing alcohol sales and supporting local producers:

• Ontario now allows all licensed grocery and big-box stores — including Costco — to sell wine, beer, and ready-to-drink beverages.
• You broke the long-standing monopoly by terminating the Master Framework Agreement with The Beer Store.
• You’ve mandated shelf space for Ontario craft producers and directed the LCBO to prioritize Ontario-made products.

These are bold, pro-business, pro-consumer reforms. They’ve helped local producers and expanded choice. But now I ask: why not bring that same energy to making Canada the freest market for Canadian-made wine?

Importantly, permitting BC wines into Ontario would not result in significant revenue loss to the Ontario government. Most BC wines are produced in small lots and at relatively higher price points. They are not mass-produced products suited for LCBO shelf space. Allowing Ontario consumers to purchase BC wines without excessive markups would stimulate Canadian wine culture, grow consumer interest in local and domestic wines, and likely increase overall wine sales through both the LCBO and private retailers — resulting in higher, not lower, government revenue over time.

In fact, opening Ontario’s borders to BC wines would likely put pressure on Quebec to follow suit. Your leadership on this file could unlock interprovincial wine trade from coast to coast. And with that, Ontario’s thriving wine sector would gain access to Quebec’s massive consumer base — a win for Ontario producers, consumers, and government coffers alike.

You said, “We are not the problem.” Let’s prove it — not just internationally, but here at home. If you’re willing to challenge Washington, I hope you’ll also challenge your fellow premiers to make Canada a true free trade zone for Canadian wine and spirits.

Sincerely,

Ron Kubek | Owner, Lightning Rock Winery
ron@lightningrockwinery.com
Summerland, British Columbia, Canada