B.C. minister mum on details of wine spat resolution talks with Alberta

Mike Farnworth said Tuesday he wants a "fair deal" that is "mutually beneficial" for both parties, but wouldn't reveal any details of talks underway.

British Columbia’s public safety minister won’t spill details on efforts to resolve an ongoing wine spat with Alberta, other than to confirm his staff are in direct talks with the prairie province.

Mike Farnworth said Tuesday he wants a “fair deal” that is “mutually beneficial” for both parties, but wouldn’t reveal when asked if B.C. is leaning towards any of Alberta’s most recent suggestions. 

“Those are the kinds of issues that my staff are currently right now exploring with staff in Alberta,” Farnworth told Global News.

“I think where things are right now, which is at a table with both parties are talking to each other is the way we should be dealing with these kinds of challenges and disputes.”

His comments come as Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally proposed two conditions for allowing B.C.’s wine to be directly shipped to Alberta consumers. The first is that Alberta be able to collect the tax revenue associated with it, and the second is that B.C. open its market to Alberta craft brewers and distillers.

Farnworth said if B.C. bends on an issue Alberta is concerned about, he expects Alberta to bend as well.

“It’s slightly challenging in the sense that they don’t want direct delivery from B.C. wineries in Alberta, but what was seen to be fine was direct delivery of products that are not allowed into B.C.,” Farnworth said.

“You can’t have it both ways.”