Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has asked the provinces to return American alcohol to store shelves.
This comes as Canadian and U.S. officials work to finalize a new deal that would avert new U.S. tariffs on nearly $30 billion in Canadian goods.
As of right now, Manitoba's premier, Wab Kinew, has not agreed to put American alcohol back on the shelves. If the Prime Minister really recommends putting it back on shelves, Kinew has a suggestion for Manitobans.
Simply put, Kinew said 'leave it there'.
"If we put the booze back on the shelves, don't buy it," said Kinew. "Let it sit on the shelf where the liquor mart employees will be putting it. Buy the Canadian stuff instead."
Wab said we've done a great job sticking together in the face of Donald Trump's tariff threats and believes that should continue. The focus remains on building up Churchill and encouraging local business, including local brewers and distillers.
Obsolete Brewing Company in Dauphin is a hot spot with several locally crafted beers.
When referring to Trump, Kinew said you can't get a good deal with a bad person, and he believes that rule applies here. He says Manitobans are paying so much at the gas pump right now because of Trump's misguided war in Iran.
In his words, Crown Royal is better than Jack Daniel's. Crown Royal is distilled, aged, and mashed exclusively at the Distillery located on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in Gimli. Jack Daniel's is made at the Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
"Let's send a message that even though the Prime Minister and Government of Canada might think it's important for us to put things back on the shelf so they can get this deal and help some of our fellow Canadians, employers, and businesses, that we don't like Donald Trump's approach to trade or way of treating Canada," said Kinew.
On February 4, 2025, American alcohol was pulled off the shelves in Manitoba, and no further American alcohol products were purchased.
In December of last year, American liquor was back on some shelves in the province for a limited time. Between December 8 and 31, 2025, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries brought in an estimated $6.9 million in retail value from the sale of American-made alcohol at stores and its various commercial partners.
From sales, the province sent $2.6 million in proceeds to holiday charities.
