Federal Conservatives want New Brunswick beer decision sent to Supreme Court

FREDERICTON – The federal Conservatives are calling on the Trudeau government to refer a recent court ruling in New Brunswick on interprovincial trade to the Supreme Court for review.

That ruling in April effectively removed limits on cross-border alcohol imports.

Judge Ronald LeBlanc tossed out all charges against Gerald Comeau, who was charged with illegally importing 14 cases of beer and three bottles of liquor from a Quebec border town in 2012.

Tory deputy leader Denis Lebel says the ruling needs to be referred to the Supreme Court so that Section 121 of the Constitution can be clarified.

Last week, the New Brunswick government filed a notice of appeal, saying the judge in the Comeau case erred in his interpretation of Section 121, which deals with the movement of goods between provinces.

Lebel says the federal government must also act as an intervenor if the New Brunswick Court of Appeal agrees to review the Comeau ruling.