Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announced on Tuesday that all B.C. wine imports into Alberta would be banned after the B.C. Government's attempts to block the Trans Mountain Pipeline's expansion into the province.
B.C. own Premier John Horgan has stated that research shows that a catastrophic oil spill could spell disaster for the province's economy and ecosystem.
Meanwhile, wineries in B.C. are a mix of confused, uncertain, and unhappy as to why Notley would target an industry that has literally nothing to do with a pipeline.
"I think it's unfortunate that (Notley) selects out a sustainable industry," says Erik Von Krosigk, winemaker at Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna. "I don't believe in the tit-for-tat thing. This is already stupid enough."
In 2015, it was reported that the wine industry in Canada contributed 9 billion dollars to the Canadian economy, with nearly a third of that coming from the B.C. wine industry. Imports of B.C. wine are a key component to the industry's success, and B.C. wine is considered very popular across Canada, as well as in the United States, Asia, and Northern Europe.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is speaking with both Premiers to try and put an end to the current trade war before it escalates any further.