Nicole O’Byrne talks to Ryan Manucha about his book, Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada’s Quest for Interprovincial Free Trade.

In 2012, Gerard Comeau, a retiree from rural New Brunswick, became an unlikely Canadian hero when he was fined for purchasing cheaper beer in Quebec and bringing it back across provincial borders. His case highlighted Canada's strict interprovincial trade laws, which are designed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition but can hinder commerce within the country itself. Ryan Manucha’s Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups explores the historical, political, and legal factors behind Canada’s interprovincial trade regulations. The book also reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of both global and domestic supply chains, emphasizing the relevance of Canada’s economic union in an increasingly isolationist world.

Ryan Manucha is a widely published author on interprovincial trade. He lives in Toronto.

Image Credit: MQUP

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