Manitoba is recalling $1 million worth of American-made alcohol it shelved months ago amid the tumultuous trade war with the United States, with plans to now sell the liquor before Christmas and send the proceeds to holiday charities.
Proceeds will go to charities such as the Winnipeg Cheer Board, the Brandon Cheer Board and organizations in Thompson, according to a statement from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew on Thursday.
Private retailers, liquor service companies, rural vendors, wine shops, restaurants and lounges will begin selling alcohol on Monday, according to the prime minister. The American products will be available for purchase at Liquor Marts in Manitoba two days later on December 10.
The stores that will sell the American beverage include seven in Winnipeg and five more total in Brandon, Dauphin, Thompson, Steinbach and Portage la Prairie, the province said.
Glen Simard, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations, says it is a temporary measure inspired by other provinces and part of a “strategy of hurting Americans” while maintaining a “friendly heart.”
“We’re looking at a million-dollar product,” Simard said Thursday.
“We hope that Manitobans will respond and go out and not only choose an American product, but also a local product.”
The news comes a week after Nova Scotia announced it would take a similar approach, selling off some of its $14 million worth of American liquor reserves and diverting the proceeds to that province’s food banks.
The ban in several provinces on sales of American liquor came after President Donald Trump in February imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian products that did not comply with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
Several provinces, including Manitoba, retaliated by removing millions of dollars of American liquor from shelves, but lLast week, Kinew hinted that Manitoba might consider following Nova Scotia’s lead.
Liquor & Lotteries is still finalizing which products will be sold, but says customers will be able to access “many of our best-selling brands in the American wine and spirits categories.”
“American beer and ready-to-drink brands will only be available for restaurants, bars and private retailers to purchase for their respective businesses,” a spokesperson said in a statement Thursday.
But not all products will be available in all locations and some items are expected to be out of stock and not restocked. Anything sold will also be final sale and will not be eligible for returns, the spokesperson said.
‘Early Christmas present’
The province estimates the move will send $500,000 to charities while sales last until Dec. 24.
Shawna Bell, executive director of Winnipeg’s Christmas Cheer Board, says she was “absolutely stunned and speechless” after hearing the news, calling it “an early Christmas gift” that will help them buy more food and toys for people in need.
“This is just a little bit of extra magic that’s going to happen and really create a wonderful holiday season for a lot of people,” he said Thursday.
“It’s going to make a big difference for us and I’m very grateful.”
The phone has been ringing off the hook since cheerleading board applications opened in early November, and 14,000 applications have been received so far, Bell said.
“We know there is a desperate situation for a lot of people, so we are doing everything we can to accommodate everyone and get as many applications as we can.”
Earlier this year, Kinew suggested that removing American liquor from Manitoba alone could cut $80 million from the U.S. economy.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries has said stocked products total $3.4 million.
Derek Johnson, the Progressive Conservative MLA for Interlake-Gimli, says his party would like to see all of Manitoba’s stock of American liquor liquidated and donated so “everyone can enjoy a good, hot meal for Christmas.”
“I think it’s very important that we as Canada stay united and continue to support products that are made in Canada and selling them on our liquor shelves, including Crown Royal, made right in Interlake-Gimli,” he told reporters outside the legislature on Thursday.
As things stand, Johnson says it’s “ideal” for profits to go to charity.
“It’s great that the premier of Manitoba is getting his ideas from [Progressive Conservative] prime ministers throughout the country.”
Send Trump a message
Some people CBC spoke to in the Tuxedo area of Winnipeg were generally supportive of the idea.
Claudette Caron says she hasn’t missed the American drink since it was pulled from shelves, but she is in favor of the move.
“If it goes to charity, especially this time of year, I think that would be great,” he said.
“As long as it’s not new stuff coming into the country… It’s just sitting there anyway.”
Dan Wachniak says he misses American wine, but it’s been a “nice change” to try some Canadian offerings in recent months.
“I’m not going to go out of my way to buy American products, just for the sake of [it]but the aspect of it going to charity, I really like it,” he said Thursday.
“Yeah [Trump] He doesn’t want to play nice with us, so [have to] Send him a message that we’re not going to play along.”
Chelsea Kork also likes the idea, but says she won’t be buying any American liquor when it’s back on shelves.
“I like that it’s going to be a charity, that’s great, but have you seen America? It’s a dumpster fire,” he said. “I don’t want to support him at all.”
American alcohol is about to hit some stores in Manitoba once again, with proceeds going to local charities. The province is following Nova Scotia’s lead and recalling American-made alcoholic beverages it shelved months ago in protest of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Premier Wab Kinew says this province won’t order new stock and some Manitobans say they won’t buy American alcohol either.
