Canada: Nova Scotia’s wine subsidy plan uncorks dispute between importers and growers

Published 2024년 9월 27일

Tridge summary

The provincial government's plan to increase subsidies for Nova Scotia's wine industry, which was set to be implemented on Oct. 1, has been put on hold due to a dispute with industry groups over the amount of funding given to bottlers importing foreign grape juice. The proposed subsidy scheme would have seen an increase in rebates for local grape growers and bottlers, and the establishment of the Nova Scotia Wine Authority at an annual cost of $500,000. However, the plan has faced opposition from the industry, with Wine Growers Nova Scotia and Grape Growers of Nova Scotia expressing concerns that it undermines the local wine industry by funding foreign-grown products. Additionally, Liberal Leader Zach Churchill has accused Premier Tim Houston of pandering to donors, following allegations made in March.

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Original content

The provincial government’s plan to increase subsidies for Nova Scotia’s wine industry is on hold due to a dispute over how much cash goes to bottlers importing foreign grape juice. After industry groups Wine Growers Nova Scotia and Grape Growers of Nova Scotia announced their opposition to the province’s plan on Wednesday, the government held a technical briefing Thursday to lay out what it had proposed. Neither Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow nor Premier Tim Houston participated in the briefing, where the plan was pitched as being born from consultations with industry and the analysis of a study of Nova Scotia’s wine industry produced by Acadia University professors Donna Sears and Terrance Weatherbee. The plan that's on hold The new subsidy scheme for wine made from grapes grown in the province or bottled in Nova Scotia would have come into effect Oct. 1. It would have seen the province fund the creation of the Nova Scotia Wine Authority at an anticipated cost of $500,000 ...

Source: Saltwire