MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
August 12, 2020
From Farm to Flask
(North Saanich, B.C.) The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is requesting the public contact their Member of Parliament and encourage support for amendments to the excise tax to achieve parity with the small distillers excise agreement enacted in the United States in 2017.
In Canada currently, there is an escalator tax attached to the excise tax whereby domestic distillers pay $12.610 per litre compared to their counterparts in the U.S. who pay approximately $1.77 per litre.
This tax initiative is supported by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce as well as other chambers across Canada. The craft distilling industry is growing and plays a significant role in our economy. This is a true farm-to-table craft industry attracting residents and tourists to sample and purchase product from their distilleries. “To highlight how much of a driver every community’s local distillery could potentially be; each 200L barrel of Canadian Whisky produced requires 1 ton of local grain grown by local farmers, and every bottle of gin or vodka made requires 20 lbs of locally grown Canadian apples or fruit!”
Given the challenges Covid-19 has saddled business with we feel it is important to examine the barriers to success that can be easily removed.
Please consider voicing your concern with your Member of Parliament and sign the petition started by Canadian Craft distillers: https://www.change.org/p/bill-morneau-support-excise-parity-for-canadian-craft-distilleries
Media Inquiries:
Denny Warner, Executive Director
Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
execdir@peninsulachamber.ca
Kirsten Titcomb
Devine Distillery & Winery
kirsten@devinevineyards.ca
Tyler Dyck, President
Craft Distillers Guild of B.C.
tyler@okanaganspirits.com