Nova Scotia wine industry worries about future as special price policy gets scrapped – Halifax
The Nova Scotia wine industry is concerned that the state has not responded quickly enough to introduce new policies to replace the special tax credit for local producers.
They want answers and say losing Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation’s (NSLC) Emerging Wine Country policy would have huge financial implications.
Winemakers and grape growers are concerned about phasing out price hike policies to help Nova Scotians try their products.
Under this program, the NSLC will reduce the tax on emerging region wines from 100% to 43% per bottle.
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With just 90 days left, industry insiders say now is the time to announce the exchange.
“The industry needs some stability and security,” said Steve Ells, president of the Nova Scotia Grape Growers Association. “And the announcement of the new program will give us a better feeling about investing in new equipment and hiring workers for next season.”
He is a grape grower who relies on wineries for sales. He says the entire industry will be hit by the program’s loss.
The state is cutting back on Australia’s new wine policy, which it submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2018, after it claimed it was an unfair trade practice.
Ells said producers and wineries want to be able to compete and need support programs to help with sales.
“What we’re really looking for in the program is something that puts us on par with other major Canadian wine regions,” Elles explains. have programs to support their respective industries.”
Wine Growers Nova Scotia is also on the same page.
“You’re just looking at other agricultural sectors and asking that they have similar programs that other agricultural sectors have,” explains executive director Haley Brown. It’s important. It’s very important to our survival.”
She adds that the wine industry contributes about $250 million a year to the economy, so it’s also important for tourism in Nova Scotia.
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Plans are in the works, according to the state, and details will be shared soon.
“We are working with three government departments – agriculture, intergovernmental affairs and finance – to address the WTO ruling,” said Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow. “So this has been a focus since we formed our government.”
The NSLC minister has said the WTO is involved and should be careful.
“We need to make sure future deployments are compliant with trade regulations,” says Alan McMaster. “We have to do it and I believe the industry understands that.”
The industry had already taken a hard hit over the winter after the polar vortex hit the region and ravaged crops. The state provided her $15 million in assistance to affected fruit growers.
Nova Scotia must phase out its emerging wine policy by June 30th.
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