Nova Scotia mead order costs double after New Brunswick liquor markup, forcing fair to cut purchase

Fireside Meadery, run by Connor and Maria Jeffreys of Musquodoboit Harbour, was set to supply almost 600 bottles of mead to the Shediac Renaissance Faire in New Brunswick when the province’s Crown liquor retailer, ANBL, announced a markup that more than doubled the order’s price—from $11,300 to roughly $25,000. To stay within budget, the fair trimmed its purchase to 240 smaller bottles, slashing the deal to about a third of its original value.

The Jeffreys described the unexpected cost as a major setback for their expanding business, while the fair’s executive producer, Sébastien Després, called the policy “counterproductive” and highlighted the need for smoother trade between Maritime provinces. ANBL explained that the Liquor Control Act requires events to buy through the Crown and that standard wine markups apply, noting that fees would be lower for a New Brunswick producer.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston publicly condemned the practice, urging provincial leaders to eliminate such intra-Canadian barriers. The incident has sparked calls for reforms to reduce interprovincial trade obstacles.