Premiers Doug Ford and Tim Houston have signed a direct-to-consumer agreement that will allow alcohol producers in each province to sell directly to customers in the other.

Under the agreement, eligible wineries, breweries and distilleries will be able to ship products directly to consumers across provincial lines.

Both premiers said the move is part of a broader push to remove remaining interprovincial trade barriers and work toward freer trade within Canada.

Producers who want to participate will need to register with the appropriate liquor authority in each province. In Nova Scotia, that means registering with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. In Ontario, producers must register with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.

Applications for producers are set to open March 8.

Officials have not yet outlined how many producers are expected to participate in the initial phase of the program.

Premiers Doug Ford and Tim Houston have signed a direct-to-consumer agreement that will allow alcohol producers in each province to sell directly to customers in the other.

Under the agreement, eligible wineries, breweries and distilleries will be able to ship products directly to consumers across provincial lines.

Both premiers said the move is part of a broader push to remove remaining interprovincial trade barriers and work toward freer trade within Canada.

Producers who want to participate will need to register with the appropriate liquor authority in each province. In Nova Scotia, that means registering with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. In Ontario, producers must register with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.

Applications for producers are set to open March 8.

Officials have not yet outlined how many producers are expected to participate in the initial phase of the program.

Canada Post has a been given a tight deadline to provide an outline on how they will implement new changes ordered by Federal Minister Joel Lightbound.

Ottawa announced the measures on September 25 that include less door-to-door delivery, lifting the moratorium on rural locations and shifting around management in order to save money.

Now, the Crown corporation says in a news release Thursday, they have 45 days to present how these measures will happen.

Canada Post says they are currently working on the plan and will be using the following guidelines:

• Prioritize service: We will provide reliable and affordable delivery for all Canadians while protecting access to vital postal services in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
• Proceed thoughtfully: While there’s a need to move with urgency, we will proceed thoughtfully to get it right and minimize how the changes affect Canadians.
• Treat employees with respect: We will continue to be fair and respectful to our employees and prioritize their safety as we implement changes.
• Keep Canadians informed: We will provide regular updates on our transformation to Canadians, customers, employees and other stakeholders and give them as much notice as possible of any changes affecting them.
• Be flexible: We will adjust our approach based on the revolving needs of Canadians.

The corporation says they will also release a series of videos that will provide more information; the first one will be about the Delivery Accommodation Program, to be found here.

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) walked off the job nationwide in response to the changes but have since returned to begin rotating strikes.

Canada Post and CUPW have been in negotiations for nearly two years.

The union has not yet responded to the corporation’s latest offer presented October 3.

Ottawa announced the measures on September 25 that include less door-to-door delivery, lifting the moratorium on rural locations and shifting around management in order to save money.

Now, the Crown corporation says in a news release Thursday, they have 45 days to present how these measures will happen.

Canada Post says they are currently working on the plan and will be using the following guidelines:

• Prioritize service: We will provide reliable and affordable delivery for all Canadians while protecting access to vital postal services in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
• Proceed thoughtfully: While there’s a need to move with urgency, we will proceed thoughtfully to get it right and minimize how the changes affect Canadians.
• Treat employees with respect: We will continue to be fair and respectful to our employees and prioritize their safety as we implement changes.
• Keep Canadians informed: We will provide regular updates on our transformation to Canadians, customers, employees and other stakeholders and give them as much notice as possible of any changes affecting them.
• Be flexible: We will adjust our approach based on the revolving needs of Canadians.

The corporation says they will also release a series of videos that will provide more information; the first one will be about the Delivery Accommodation Program, to be found here.

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) walked off the job nationwide in response to the changes but have since returned to begin rotating strikes.

Canada Post and CUPW have been in negotiations for nearly two years.

The union has not yet responded to the corporation’s latest offer presented October 3.

The Ontario government announced it is making a $78,000 increase to to the Internet Connectivity Grant program, which helps reimburse rural, northern and First Nations Public Libraries for their connectivity costs.

The province says that additional amount of funds will allow 30 public libraries in Ontario the ability to join the program.

“Accessible and reliable internet elevates education, economic opportunities, and community connection,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation in a news release. “In expanding the Internet Connectivity Grant, we are ensuring that all First Nation public libraries can continue providing this critical service at no cost to their communities.”

Since 2018, the Internet Connectivity Grant program has provided the province’s public libraries with more than $4.3 million to ensure communities have reliable internet access.

According to a recent report, nearly one in three northern Ontarians without home internet rely on public libraries for online access to remote education, job searches and other services.

The Ontario government announced it is making a $78,000 increase to to the Internet Connectivity Grant program, which helps reimburse rural, northern and First Nations Public Libraries for their connectivity costs.

The province says that additional amount of funds will allow 30 public libraries in Ontario the ability to join the program.

“Accessible and reliable internet elevates education, economic opportunities, and community connection,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation in a news release. “In expanding the Internet Connectivity Grant, we are ensuring that all First Nation public libraries can continue providing this critical service at no cost to their communities.”

Since 2018, the Internet Connectivity Grant program has provided the province’s public libraries with more than $4.3 million to ensure communities have reliable internet access.

According to a recent report, nearly one in three northern Ontarians without home internet rely on public libraries for online access to remote education, job searches and other services.