Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce
Registration:
1
of
3
(2024-02-20
to
2024-03-18)
Details Regarding the Identified Subject Matter
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Specific Topics of Lobbying Communications
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Intended Outcomes
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Associated Subject Matters
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Send a letter to Ministers' Farnworth, Popham, Bailey, and Alexis, as well as local MLA Dan Ashton and local MP Richard Cannings to recommend changes to legislation relating to the British Columbia wine industry, including:
1. Given the 58% reduction in grape production last year, and now a forecasted 97-99% reduction in
2024’s vintage, suspend the minimum fermenting requirements and temporarily allow B.C. land-based
wineries the ability to purchase and utilize non-B.C. grapes in order to keep B.C. wines in production
and on our shelves.
2. Permanently allow a single license for land-based wineries to conduct tastings anywhere on their
property, as is already done successfully in Ontario. The current B.C. requirement of hiring consultants
and meticulously planning changes to tasting areas is unnecessarily excessive and stifles growth.
3. Consolidate the various licenses (tasting, picnic, lounge, special endorsement) into one license, with a
streamlined approval process of 30 days or less. The current system, which can take up to 12 months
for approval of additions to your existing manufacturing license and involves hiring consultants and
engineers, is burdensome and impedes business development.
4. Commit to recognizing B.C. wine tourism as a strategic marketing priority equivalent to that of British
Columbian ski hills in order to drive visitation through wine tourism programming.
5. Advocate to the Government of Alberta the proposal of B.C. wineries of collecting and remitting to the
Albertan government the $2.75 per bottle tax for direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales in order to restore a
B.C. winery’s ability to also sell through liquor retail shelves and restaurants.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Agriculture, Economic Development and Trade, Liquor Control/Alcohol, Tourism
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