Alberta and B.C. left with limited options to escalate trade war
CALGARY — British Columbia Premier John Horgan held off on ratcheting up a trade war with Alberta Wednesday, but experts say both provinces still have a few limited options to raise the stakes.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has already deployed some of the weapons in the province’s arsenal to protest B.C.’s proposed restriction on bitumen shipments, when she announced a ban on B.C. wine on Tuesday and an end to talks on increased electricity imports last week.
The limits on B.C. wine were a viable target because provinces control the purchase of alcohol, said Trevor Tombe, an associate professor of economics at the University of Calgary.
“With booze, because it’s a monopoly wholesaler owner by the government, it can easily change its purchasing decision.”