The new NDP tax on beer produced outside of BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan is unconstitutional.

Under the Constitution - goods entering one province from another, shouldn’t be taxed. The overnight tax has now been applied and it’s affecting profit margins significantly, even causing some businesses to leave the Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan market, which is now affecting beer selection in the province.

I decided to go out and talk to some of these business owners in Calgary to see exactly how this tax is affecting them.

I stopped in with Mike Tessier and Bo Vitanov - owners of Artisan Ales, Geoff Allan – manager at Bottlescrew Bill’s and John Beskas – owner of Oak and Vine liquor stores. Their answers were very similar – the tax has significantly affected businesses by affecting profit margins. Not only this, but the way they do business has changed and owners are finding creative ways to sell their products, or even moving their business elsewhere.

Mike and Bo have been proactive in this situation and have written letters to Joe Ceci – who states that “the changes...are intended to make this province more attractive for setting up production facilities that use regional agricultural products,” showing the Minister and the NDP are completely out of touch on the subject since breweries outside of Alberta use Alberta barley.

Business prosperity and the Alberta economy are non-partisan issues, but the NDP are making them one.

All these businesses really want is for the tax to be reversed, so that they can continue sharing their passion with the rest of the market.