As the trade disagreement between BC and Alberta's NDP Governments rages on, BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson has spoken out against what he has likened to a "silly schoolyard dispute."
Wilkinson visited the Sandhill Winery in Kelowna on Friday morning to show his support for BC's wine industry, which has taken a hit since Alberta Premier Rachel Notley banned all BC wine imports into Alberta.
"What we see here is an industry that's worth $2.8 billion a year in British Columbia," said Wilkinson. "About 15,000 people work in this industry, and we've seen a growth over the last twenty years of being a cottage industry to being a major employer, and that's something that we're very proud of."
Wilkinson called for BC Premier John Horgan to "swallow his pride" and meet with Notley to try and come to a reasonable solution to the Kinder Morgan Pipeline expansion issue, which has led to the BC wine ban in Alberta.
"There is no upside to picking fights with your neighbours," Wilkinson asserted.
Alberta is one of the biggest customers for BC wine, with $70 million a year being generated from sales into Alberta, which is over $1 million per week.