Posted July 2, 2025 | By Ron Kubek, Owner – Lightning Rock Winery, Summerland, BC
On Canada Day, we were told we now live in a “One Canadian Economy.” Free interprovincial trade. No more roadblocks. That was the promise.
But as a winery owner in British Columbia, I can tell you: that’s not the reality.
Here’s a side-by-side look at what really happens when wine moves across provincial lines.
This week, I ordered wine from an Ontario winery and had it shipped to my door here in Summerland, BC. It arrived safely by Canada Post, with no markup, no provincial tax, no recycling fees, just the standard 5% GST. No interference from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch at all. The total was $356.56 for twelve bottles.
It felt simple. Reasonable. Like what free trade should look like.
But if I try to send a case of Lightning Rock wine to a customer in Ontario? It’s a whole different story.
We’d face a 71% markup from the LCBO, 13% HST, a container fee, and the threat of regulatory action unless we operate in a legal grey zone. I’ve offered to collect and remit HST or PST depending on the province, a simple, honest fix. But no government has acted.
Instead, provinces like Alberta have doubled down—adding a 15% ad valorem tax on top of the $4.11-per-litre bottle tax, bringing the total to roughly 28%. It’s a steep and punitive markup on BC wine, thinly veiled behind Latin to obscure its true impact.
The total cost to the customer almost doubles. That’s not a fair system; that’s a barrier dressed up as policy.
“I was charged just 5% GST when ordering wine from Ontario to my winery in BC. But if I ship wine to Ontario, I face a 71% markup, container fees, and 13% HST. That is not interprovincial free trade –that is a barrier dressed up as policy.”
– Ron Kubek,
Owner, Lightning Rock Winery
If you’ve ever enjoyed a bottle of wine from another province and appreciated discovering something new, while supporting Canadian, this matters to you.
We believe BC wine should be treated like Canadian wine, not like a foreign import. You should be able to enjoy our wines no matter where you live, without paying 96% more because of outdated, protectionist policies.
What’s more, the BC government already allows Ontario wineries to ship directly to consumers here without interference. But the same freedom hasn’t been offered in return.
We’re not trying to play politics. We’re trying to make sense of something that doesn’t.
We’ve called on provincial leaders, and we hope they’ll listen. Here’s what we’re asking for:
✓ End excessive liquor markups on Canadian wine
✓ Let wineries collect and remit HST or PST across provinces
✓ Allow direct-to-consumer shipping from all Canadian wineries, not just the ones in the “right” province
✓ Honour the promise of a “One Canadian Economy”
At Lightning Rock, we’ve already fought through a year of devastation, losing 100% of our 2024 crop to freeze. We invested over $160,000 of our own money to keep going. We didn’t ask for subsidies. We didn’t increase production. We simply tried to survive, and keep our team of mighty nine employed.
Now, we’re fighting again, this time for fairness in our own country.
“This isn’t about politics. It’s about common sense, consumer rights, and the future of Canadian wine.”
We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for the same rules to apply both ways. Because if Ontario wine can come into BC without markups, the same should be true in reverse.
Share this post with your friends, especially those outside BC.
Contact your local representative and ask why Canadian wine still can’t move freely across the country. We’ve included a handy letter you can use below.
Order from a Canadian winery or if you can, come see us in person.
Thank you for standing with us — and for believing that good wine, like good policy, should be shared.