Manitoba is pulling out hundreds of thousands of dollars of U.S.-made alcohol it shelved months ago amid a tumultuous trade war with the U.S., with plans of now selling the liquor ahead of Christmas and sending the proceeds to holiday charities.
The revenue will go to charities including the Winnipeg Cheer Board, Brandon Cheer Board and Thompson Cheer Board, according to a statement from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew on Thursday.
Private retailers, liquor service businesses, rural vendors, wine stores, restaurants and lounges will begin selling the alcohol on Monday, according to the premier. American products will be available for purchase in Liquor Marts across Manitoba two days later, on Dec. 10.
The province estimates the move will send $500,000 to charities while sales last until Dec. 24.
The news comes one week after Nova Scotia announced it would take a similar approach, selling some of its $14 million stockpiled American liquor and diverting the revenue to food banks in that province.
The multi-province ban on U.S. liquor sales came after Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff in February on Canadian goods that aren’t compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.
Several provinces, including Manitoba, retaliated by yanking millions of dollars of American liquor off shelves.
Last week, Kinew hinted that Manitoba might consider following Nova Scotia’s lead.
Earlier this year Kinew suggested that removing American liquor from Manitoba alone could cut $80 million from the U.S. economy.
Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries has said the stockpiled products amount to $3.4 million.
