Finance Committee on March 27th, 2012
Evidence of meeting #50 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was wine.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- Hanspeter Stutz As an Individual
- Ivonne Martinez President, Alberta Liquor Store Association
- Rowland Dunning Executive Director, Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions
- Dan Paszkowski President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Vintners Association
- Harry McWatters Time Estate Winery, Vintage Consulting Group Inc.
- Janice Ruddock Managing Director, Winery Association of Nova Scotia
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair James Rajotte
I cannot believe that a good Nova Scotian wouldn't buy directly from a good winery in Nova Scotia.
Thank you, Mr. Chisholm.
We'll go to Mr. Adler.
March 27th, 2012 / 5 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler York Centre, ON
I hope you paid your duties and taxes on that bottle, Mr. Chisholm, when you brought it back.
5 p.m.
NDP
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
A voice
Hear, hear!
5 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler York Centre, ON
He has done more than he really knows. Let me explain why.
I don't know if it has to do with the new NDP leader seeing a future in moving more towards where we stand as a conservative party, as opposed to where his party was standing before, or—
5 p.m.
NDP
5 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler York Centre, ON
We're focused here; we're focused more than you know.
What he has done is get the NDP to agree to a free trade arrangement for the first time ever.
5 p.m.
NDP
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler York Centre, ON
Let's not forget that back in 1988, the NDP and the Liberal Party were both against the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, mainly because it was supposed to lead to the destruction of the Canadian wine industry. In fact, free trade between Canada and the United States has created the most competitive and finest wine industry on the face of the earth. I say Mr. Albas is to be congratulated for his great foresight in all of this.
Mr. Dunning, do your members compete directly with the wine industry?
5 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions
That depends on what province you're talking about. In Ontario, there's a competitive relationship, because the wine industry has something like 350 off-site stores to compete with the LCBO. In Quebec, the SAQ competes with the depanneurs. In British Columbia, the British Columbia distribution brands compete with the winery sales, so yes, in some provinces there is some competition.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler York Centre, ON
Have you done any analysis to determine whether or not your members would lose any revenue if this bill becomes law?
5 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions
We figure that if the bill becomes law and provinces institute direct shipping, those kinds of sales could represent up to 5%, so we're figuring on about a $300-million loss.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler York Centre, ON
Is that why you're not in agreement with the others—because it would mean a loss to your business?