The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, will participate in a hybrid discussion on Canada's industrial strategy and middle-power diplomacy in London. The event is scheduled for July 22, 2026, at Chatham House. Following the discussion, Joly will hold a media teleconference to address questions from accredited press members.

The discussion at Chatham House will focus on Canada's industrial strategy and its approach to middle-power diplomacy. The event is open to both in-person and virtual attendees, with registration required through Ekene Oboko, Senior Press Officer at Chatham House. The session aims to provide insights into Canada's economic and diplomatic strategies on the global stage.

Event Details

Participation in the media teleconference is limited to accredited members of the Press Gallery. Non-members may request temporary access by contacting the Press Gallery at pressres2@parl.gc.ca . The teleconference will be conducted via Zoom, allowing journalists to engage directly with Minister Joly.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is organizing the events as part of its efforts to promote Canada's industrial and economic development initiatives. The ministry encourages stakeholders to stay connected through its official website and social media channels for updates and further information.

Premiers of nine provinces signed a landmark agreement on July 21, 2026, to implement Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales of alcoholic beverages between their jurisdictions. The agreement fosters a more open and integrated economy by removing a major trade barrier within Canada, significantly expanding consumer choice and increasing producer access to new markets. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) welcomed the news, stating that Canada's independent wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries have waited a long time for this reality. CFIB President Dan Kelly emphasized that allowing small producers to ship directly to consumers across provincial borders will help them reach new customers and grow their businesses.

The signatories include Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. As of today, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador are implementing their approaches to DTC sales. British Columbia has committed to having its system in place to implement DTC for all types of alcohol in February 2027. CFIB commended Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan for embracing a straightforward, low-burden approach to direct-to-consumer sales, helping maximize the opportunities these reforms create for independent producers.

The agreement builds on the commitment in the June 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on DTC Sales of Alcoholic Beverages. It follows through on a key commitment made by First Ministers at their meeting on January 29, 2026, to support the reduction of barriers to internal trade for alcoholic beverages. Other signatories to the 2025 MOU, Quebec and Yukon, are in the process of establishing the necessary infrastructure to implement DTC and aim to sign on to the Agreement in the near future.

Provincial implementation details vary based on prior agreements and existing frameworks. Manitoba and New Brunswick allowed DTC sales on all alcohol products prior to this agreement. Nova Scotia and British Columbia also allowed DTC for Canadian wine, with British Columbia continuing to allow these DTC wine sales from all provinces and territories. Ontario and Nova Scotia further signed a bilateral DTC operating agreement in March 2026, and Alberta and British Columbia also have an agreement on DTC sale of wine.

CFIB indicated it will closely monitor implementation to ensure that provinces do not impose unnecessary licensing, authorizations, or registration requirements that create unnecessary costs and complexity for small producers. The federation views today's announcement as a starting point rather than a finish line. CFIB urged governments to include alcohol under the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement, allowing alcohol products that can be legally sold in one province or territory to be sold in every other jurisdiction without duplicative testing, paperwork, or regulatory requirements. This would further reduce barriers for small producers and create a truly open domestic market for Canadian alcohol.