Stephen Harper calls border alcohol limits 'ridiculous'

New Brunswick's restrictions on citizens bringing alcohol into the province from elsewhere in Canada are "ridiculous," Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said on the campaign trail Monday.

Harper was in Ottawa responding to a question about whether Canadians should face legal sanctions for bringing alcohol across provincial borders.

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"My personal view and the view of our government is that's ridiculous," he said.

Last week in Campbellton, retiree Gerard Comeau stood trial in provincial court on a charge of violating the New Brunswick Liquor Control Act.

The law limits a person to bringing a maximum of 18 bottles or cans of beer, and one bottle of wine or liquor into New Brunswick from another province.

Comeau was bringing 14 cases of beer and three bottles of alcohol into New Brunswick from Quebec when he was stopped in an RCMP enforcement operation.

Harper said the federal government has brought in legislation to make it easier to move alcohol between provinces.

However, he said similar legislation is required at a provincial level, and while some provinces have done so, he urged all provinces to adopt the legislation.

A decision in Comeau's case is not expected until the spring.

Regardless of the provincial court ruling, many parties expect the case to end up in the Supreme Court of Canada.