Latest news with #VintnersQualityAlliance
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vintners and brewers thrilled with supports in Ontario budget
TORONTO — Ontario's vintners and brewers are thrilled with the support provided by the province in its latest budget, saying it helps stabilize the industry in uncertain times. The province is set to launch the Ontario Grape Support program that will double the percentage of Ontario grapes in blended wine. The $175-million program, to be doled out over five years, is expected to lead to thousands of tonnes of Ontario grapes making their way into the international-domestic blends and provide a safety net for wineries and farmers, said Aaron Dobbin, the president of Wine Growers Ontario. "This is a huge day for us," Dobbin said. Currently, blended wines must contain at least 25 per cent Ontario grapes, which are then blended with wine from other countries such as Italy, France and the United States. Blended wines are cheaper compared to traditional wines and offer Ontario vintners and grape growers the ability to compete with international wines that go for $10 a bottle. "It will significantly increase demand for Ontario grapes, which will help farmers," Dobbin said. Those wines are made with hardier Ontario grapes, which can help when catastrophe strikes. "You can grow them in higher volumes and they're not as susceptible to Mother Nature," he said. Details of the program are still being ironed out, Dobbin said. The province is also expanding the Vintners Quality Alliance wine support program, an $84-million annual fund that helps wineries grow their business. The program provides rebates back to wineries when their products are bought at Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores. Now the rebate will be expanded to sales at wineries. "Particularly those smaller wineries that rely heavily on gate sales, it's a big, big deal for them," Dobbin said. Craft brewers are also applauding the province's moves to help their sector. The province is providing relief to microbreweries by cutting the microbrew tax rate and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario mark-up rate by 50 per cent each. The moves have created stability in the industry, said Natasha Fritzley, president of Cowbell Brewing in Blyth, Ont., and a board member of Ontario Craft Brewers, a trade association that represents more than 100 small, independent brewers. "Was I happy and thrilled with what the government delivered on for us? We really all truly were, it's very meaningful," Fritzley said. "This will drive tourism, this will grow jobs here in Ontario." Fritzley said the tax changes are so important because it sent a signal from the province that Ontario is a place a business can grow. "We're investing immediately in a 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Blyth and in a pasteurizer for our products with this news," she said. "What it does is it gives us that breathing room and confidence to say, 'Hey, this is an environment that we're willing to invest in despite the unknown,'" Fritzley said. "And there are a lot of unknowns right now." U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and his ongoing trade war with much of the world has affected Canada's booze industry, largely through the tariff on Canadian aluminum. While the metal is made in Canada, it is then shipped to the U.S. to be turned into beer cans or lids before being shipped back. But that has led to wildly different prices as suppliers and brokers try to figure out how to implement the tariffs, Fritzley said. The tariffs have also caused instability, she said. But Trump's moves are also spurring more Ontarians to buy from Ontario businesses, she said, though her shop hasn't seen an increase in sales yet. But there could be more business coming. In response to Trump, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has tabled legislation that, when passed, will open up free trade with other provinces. Alcohol has long been a sticking point between provinces, but Ontario's new rules will allow direct-to-consumer sales with other provinces that have reciprocating laws. Ford has signed free trade memorandums of understanding with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba to allow for direct-to-consumer alcohol sales. He hopes to sign bilateral deals with each remaining province and territory within the coming months. That should open up new sales channels for wine and beer makers. "For those smaller wineries who are focused on higher priced wines, it'll be particularly helpful for them in creating a channel that they can take advantage of," Dobbin said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Toronto Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Doug Ford's government vows to ‘protect Ontario' from Donald Trump's tariffs with record $232.5B budget
Woe Canada, Ontario claims to stand on guard for thee. With the economy battered by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and unemployment rising, Premier Doug Ford's government has tabled a record $232.5-billion provincial budget to 'protect Ontario' and promote national unity. 'When all of Canada wins, Ontario wins,' Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said Thursday in a boosterish speech that noted 'it is amazing to witness the burst of patriotism across our province and our great country' in the face of Trump's tariffs. Wary of smouldering secessionist sentiment in Alberta, Bethlenfalvy stressed 'all levels of government need to work together to tackle the most pressing issues facing Ontario and Canada today … and deliver on nation-building projects such as reactors, seaports, railroads, pipelines and refineries.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW That means encouraging Prime Minister Mark Carney's new Liberal government to 'clear the maze of bureaucracy and red tape, barriers like Ottawa's Bill C-69,' to allow energy infrastructure to be built more quickly. With Trump's tariffs — real and threatened — triggering economic uncertainty, the recently re-elected Progressive Conservative government is launching a new $5-billion 'Protecting Ontario Account' to give immediate emergency cash supports to businesses affected by the slowdown. 'Tariffs have created an economic challenge across Ontario — and it is our communities who are hurting the most,' the treasurer said in a budget address that mentioned 'Canada' 33 times and 'Ontario' 70 times, but, unlike the April 15 throne speech, did not cite Trump by name. Indeed, unemployment in the province now sits at 7.8 per cent — above the national rate of 6.9 per cent — and a full percentage point higher than the 6.8 per cent this time last year. In 2023, it was five per cent. To tackle that, Bethlenfalvy is earmarking $20 million for new training and support centres 'providing immediate transition supports for laid-off workers, including those impacted by U.S. tariffs,' over and above the $2.5 billion promised for skills development and retraining programs over three years. With growth expected to sputter to just 0.8 per cent this year, the Tories are giving the economy a cash infusion with borrowed money, adding $5 billion to the Building Ontario Fund for affordable housing, long-term-care homes and energy projects, and tripling to $3 billion a fund to help Indigenous communities build infrastructure. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Touting a slew of initiatives to promote consumption of domestic goods from cars to cannabis, Bethlenfalvy decreed that the Friday before Canada Day will hitherto be known as 'Buy Ontarian, Buy Canadian' day to promote local products. It will be 'held annually on the last Friday in June to help consumers support local businesses and workers through programs such as Ontario Made, Ontario Wood, Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) for wine, and Foodland Ontario.' That dovetails with the push from Ford and Carney to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by July 1, which the premier and prime minister maintain could add $200 billion to the Canadian economy. Along with measures to boost sales of red wine, there was a lot of red ink in the budget, the first to be tabled since Ford's three-term Tories were re-elected Feb. 27. Last year's projected $9.8-billion deficit turned out to be a $6-billion shortfall. But the $4.6-billion deficit previously forecast for 2025-26 has ballooned to an anticipated $14.6 billion — a $10-billion increase due to spending on tariff-related measures. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A month ago, Ford announced he would temporarily defer some provincial taxes through to Oct. 1, freeing up about $9 billion in cashflow for 80,000 tariff-hit employers to keep workers on the job. He also gave businesses an additional $2 billion in rebates through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Bethlenfalvy said the deficit would be $7.8 billion next year before the government goes back into the black with a $200 million surplus in 2027-28. 'We are seeing our debt-to-GDP ratio — which is an excellent way to measure an economy's fiscal health — near the lowest levels in almost 15 years, and now we can use that balance sheet to protect workers and businesses,' he told the legislature. Ontario's debt has jumped to a projected $489.8 billion this fiscal year — up $166.8 billion since Ford's Tories took office thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. That's a staggering 51.6 per cent increase from the $323-billion debt inherited from the previous Liberals of premier Kathleen Wynne seven years ago. Queen's Park will spend $16.2 billion on interest payments in 2025-26 — greater than the budgets of every single ministry except Health ($81.9 billion), Education ($42.7 billion) and Children, Community and Social Services ($20.4 billion) — climbing to $17 billion next year. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the Tories are spending more while Ontarians are getting less for their tax dollars. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'This is a Band-Aid budget, a missed opportunity to strengthen Ontario,' said Stiles. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said her party supports 'providing stimulus to ride through this critical time.' 'But in the long term, what's in it for the people who are still waiting 20 hours in an emergency room for care?' she said. Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the fiscal plan 'utterly fails' on improving housing affordability. 'We will not tariff-proof Ontario if people can't afford to live in this province. We are not helping the people who need the help, the most low- and middle-income families,' said Schreiner. As first disclosed by the Star on Wednesday, Bethlenfalvy's 232-page spending plan says that beyond the bike lanes the province wants removed from Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, bikeways will be taken off of Queen's Park Crescent and Avenue Road in order to have more car lanes. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Ontario is reconfiguring some of Toronto's most congested streets,' the budget stated in a section that also included Ford's controversial scheme to tunnel under Highway 401 from Mississauga to Scarborough in order reduce gridlock. The spending blueprint reiterated the Tories' commitment to expanding TTC and GO Transit services and boasts that 'major construction … is now complete' for the Eglinton Crosstown and the Finch West LRTs, but did not specify opening dates for those delayed projects. Construction began on the 19-kilometre Crosstown LRT in 2012 under former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty. The Star has reported it could finally open in September. Finally, buried on the last page of the budget, there will be a new law that will allow former cabinet ministers of all political stripes to call themselves 'Honorary Members of the Executive Council.' That means they can use the honorific 'the honourable,' bringing Ontario in line with titles enjoyed by ex-ministers in Ottawa and other provinces. With files from Rob Ferguson Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
CBC
12-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
As interest in Ontario wines grows, these restaurants are taking notice: Jasmine Mangalaseril
With more people making an effort to get Canadian products on our plates, it makes sense to also think about what's in our wine glasses. Meg Alford, owner of Guelph's Two Faces natural wine bar, said there's been an uptick in interest in Ontario-made wines since the U.S. government threatened and implemented tariffs against Canada. "It's like night and day," she said. "But after the tariffs were put in, I would say so many people are asking [about Ontario wines]." Ontario-made wines: Older than Canada In 1866, Canada's first commercial winery, Vin Villa, was established on Pelee Island, with a 12-hectare vineyard of North American Catawba grapes. Today, Ontario grows more than 7,000 hectares of grapes. The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) recognizes some traditional European grape varietals (Vitis vinifera), and some European-North American hybrids. And while they granted appellations (or a geographic designation) to Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County, some winemakers seek out non-VQA varietals, harvested elsewhere in the province. "I'm particularly interested in grapes that have genetics to this area. They also have built-in disease resistance and are able to flourish in our climate a lot better because their genetics are from here." said Drea Scotland of Drinks Farm, who has a young vineyard in Demorestville, Ontario. "I also think those wines are delicious." Virtual wineries Until Scotland's vines can be harvested, she follows the French négociant tradition. Her grapes are sourced from areas including Georgian Bay, northern Ontario, and eastern Ontario and she works in a shared wine-making facility. "You can do sustainable growing with vinifera in some places," said Scotland. "But, to me, the future of wine making in Ontario is leaning more in the hybrid direction. It would also open up the province to having way more wine regions." Wes Klassen, sommelier and co-owner of Kitchener's Odd Duck Wine and Provisions, focuses solely on offerings from virtual wineries. "There is no brick-and-mortar building. They are not available at the LCBO," said Klassen. "They [have a] tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny amount of production. It's this really cool co-operative community of growers that are making outstanding wines." It's a more affordable wine-making model that gives wine makers flexibility in sourcing grapes and creative freedom in blending and trying different techniques. Sourcing your next sip Klassen said it's important to find a wine or hospitality professional who can showcase wines for their strengths, versus comparing them to wines from other regions. "I think a lot of people want Ontario's version of a Cali Cab. They want us to be something that we're not," said Klassen. "I think we're kind of slapping ourselves in the face and doing a disservice to what we actually do here." In Guelph, Alford finds her guests pleasantly surprised to learn what they're sipping was made a few hours away. "I've had Drea's rosé on by the glass for a couple months now. Only recently were people asking, 'Where is this from?' And I'm like, 'Ontario. Right here.'" A person might be able to purchase a bottle at the bar's or restaurant's bottle shop. If not, many producers do direct-to-consumer sales or list bottle shops they work with. 5 Ontario wines our experts recommend 2022 Cabernet Franc, Maenad Wine Co. VQA Four Mile Creek "Very expressive, very textual wines that are still clean…a great option for somebody who wants something that's fuller body," said Wes Klassen. 2023 Flora, Rosewood Estates Winery and Meadery. VQA Niagara Peninsula "It's just really beautiful and everyone at the bar loves it. It's just a blend of grapes. Every year it tastes a little bit different, but just very classic and such a great price," said Meg Alford. 2023 Giosuè, Drinks Farm. Ontario "Varietals I've never heard about but then if I closed my eyes, I could swear this wine was a super classic Italian Rosato," said Meg Alford. 2023 Marsanne (with 13 per cent Viognier), Sempre Mio Wines. VQA Lincoln Lakeshore "Texture wise, it is just so beautiful. There's just so much going on. It's such a great food wine," said Wes Klassen. 2024 Supersonic, Trail Estate. Niagara "Everything's done in a low intervention style. Something that really is fun is her Supersonic, which is made from 100 per cent Concord grapes," said Wes Klassen.
