Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable member, for the question.
I don't know what made you think I would be interested in talking about beer, but....
Yes, it's a great case, a great case study, and a great constitutional test. The provincial control over the distribution of alcoholic beverages goes back to a federal resolution coming out of the Prohibition era. In other words, the federal government wanted to get out of the field, and the saw-off it found was to turn over responsibility or authority to the provinces, where it previously did not reside, and as of 1949 you could even buy beer in P.E.I.
The question outstanding is whether that extends to trade across borders and how the trade and commerce clause is intended to be interpreted within the Constitution. My personal opinion is that it would be within a superior or supreme court's authority to determine that the barriers are unconstitutional. Whether a court will do so will depend on the arguments that are eventually presented in court, should the case get there. I wouldn't like to predict the outcome.