Le Lézard
Classified in: Business
Subjects: ECO, CFG

Spirits Canada Launches NOT ON MY TAB Campaign in Toronto


Urgent Call to Repeal Automatic Escalator Tax on Beer, Wine & Spirits Hurting Canadians and Canada

TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Spirits Canada, the sole national association representing Canadian distillers, launched the NOT ON MY TAB campaign this morning in Toronto's historic Distillery District. The campaign seeks to repeal automatic annual increases in excise taxes on spirits, beer and wine imposed by the federal Liberal government.

Spirits Canada is calling on help to stand up for hard working Canadians, Canadian whisky makers, Canadian farmers and jobs here in Canada.

Annual automatic excise tax increases that drive up the cost of drinks, takes money out of the pockets of consumers, and drives jobs and investment out of Canada, must be repealed as part of the next federal Budget.

In the March 2017 federal budget, the Liberal government resurrected a damaging escalator tax on alcohol, originally introduced in 1982. During its 5-year span, the escalator tax of the 1980's devastated the spirits industry, resulting in 11 commercial Canadian distilleries closing their doors permanently, and thousands of lost jobs. If not repealed, more jobs will be lost, distilleries will close, and farmers and other businesses serving the spirits industry, including bars and restaurants across the country, will be harmed.

The NOT ON MY TAB campaign highlights several important factors:

The NOT ON MY TAB Campaign seeks to repeal the unsustainable escalator tax on alcohol - to support ordinary Canadians who enjoy a social drink with family and friends, and to create a more competitive marketplace.

"The escalator tax on alcohol was not analyzed in terms of long-term consequences, and its damage will only get worse if not repealed," says Jan Westcott, President & CEO of Spirits Canada. "Distillers cannot survive another new level of production taxation, with Canadians already paying 80% tax on every bottle of spirits. We acknowledge that taxes play an important role in providing social services, but spirits consumers already pay more than their fair share, and the fact is the new escalator tax has made a bad tax even worse and it needs to be repealed."

Adds Westcott: "Canadians will always drink spirits, but unless we start to think longer-term, the question before us is - will any of those spirits be made right here in Canada, from grains grown by Canadian farmers or, will they be imported from other countries, creating jobs and economic opportunity elsewhere? It's time to stand up and fight for hard working Canadian consumers, Canadian whisky makers, Canadian farmers and for jobs here in Canada."

The NOT ON MY TAB campaign will be visiting communities across Canada during September, October and November of 2018 to seek support to the repeal the new escalator tax. To learn more, please visit: www.notonmytab.ca

SOURCE Spirits Canada


These press releases may also interest you

at 08:57
West Pico Distributors (WPD) of Vernon, California, in partnership with Kayco, the nation's leading source for kosher and kosher lifestyle products, is proud to announce the appointment of Bill Finke as Director of Retail Sales for the Grocery...

at 08:55
Shield AI, Inc., a defense technology company building the world's best AI pilot, and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. , a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets and an industry-leading provider of...

at 08:47
Kunes Auto & RV Group, a Midwest automotive group, is continuing its company growth with the opening of its new store in Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. Purchased from Finley GMC, the new automotive store will operate as Kunes GMC of Beloit starting...

at 08:43
WIN (Women In Negotiation) is pleased to announce Walmart Connect as its presenting sponsor - for its eighth annual WIN Summit to be held Thursday, May 30, 2024 in New York City....

at 08:38
Staffing Industry Analysts announced its 2024 Best Staffing Firms to Work For list this week, honoring Omaha-based healthcare company Fusion as a winner in the category of staffing firms with more than 500 employees. SIA's Best Staffing Firms to...

at 08:37
In a landmark move, Greenlight Commercial Funding (GCF) has announced its support for Audacity Zone Developments, INC. through an $11 million Series A Preferred Equity Offering. This underscores the company's unwavering commitment to fostering...



News published on and distributed by: