Michael Gorman

Premier Stephen McNeil&nbsp;says he's optimistic interprovincial trade barriers that prevent alcohol from moving as freely as possible from one province to another could soon become less restrictive.

"Maybe not to the extent of 100 per cent open, but we believe we will get significant movement on that file between now and the end of October," McNeil&nbsp;told reporters at Province House on Thursday.

Premiers' much-hyped internal trade deal hasn't amounted to much

On the day they released the Canadian Free Trade Agreement in 2017, all the provincial and territorial trade ministers were given a symbolic pair of golden scissors to remind them to start cutting interprovincial trade barriers. The trouble is, they aren't using them.

GoldenScissors

Laura Jones from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business awarded 'Golden Scissors' for cutting red tape to Canada's federal, provincial and territorial trade ministers on the day the text of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement was released at a ceremony in Toronto.

During the conference of provincial and territorial leaders this summer&nbsp;in New Brunswick, McNeil and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister&nbsp;were tapped to find ways to improve interprovincial trade and reduce regulatory barriers.

While provinces across the country, including Nova Scotia, regularly tout trade successes with other countries, they've been less successful at finding ways to overcome the&nbsp;borders within their own country.

McNeil said he talked to Pallister last week and they settled on four initiatives to pursue, which he's hoping will receive unanimous support from premiers across the country.

Wine industry, business groups disappointed by Supreme Court's interprovincial beer ruling

Business groups and free-market advocates are expressing disappointment with Thursday's ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada that dealt a blow to those who want to see interprovincial trade barriers knocked down.

Bottles of British Columbia wine on display at a liquor store in Cremona, Alta.

BC wine

Beer products are on display at a Toronto beer store on Thursday. The Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the constitutionality of a New Brunswick law that ensnared a man who brought home beer and liquor from neighbouring Quebec.

SCOC Border Beer 20180419

While McNeil wouldn't detail the initiatives until they've been discussed with the other premiers, he&nbsp;did confirm a focus on the restrictions regarding alcohol.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister are leading discussions between provincial and territorial trade ministers on regulatory barriers.

McNeil hopes to break down booze borders this fall

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