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With the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments at odds over beer policy, it’s unfortunate that neither side in this battle has the best interests of consumers at heart.

This beer war was sparked by the Notley government’s decision earlier this month to hike Alberta’s beer markup rate across the board to $1.25 for each litre sold. In doing so, the government eliminated the more favourable rate enjoyed by smaller Alberta breweries — a courtesy that had also been extended to breweries in Saskatchewan and B.C.

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Rather than defend a preferential taxation policy that punishes other provinces, the government has opted for a single tax rate and will instead offer subsidies to smaller breweries in Alberta. However, we still don’t know how that is going to work. For some mysterious reason the government opted to only announce half the policy, with the rest to come later.

The Saskatchewan government, meanwhile, reacted angrily to the announcement, calling it “offside” with the New West Partnership trade agreement. Don McMorris, the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), suggested that his province might have to review its own policies, including the markup charged on Alberta beers.