Finance committee  We would be delighted, either as individual producers or trade association members, to share with liquor regulators across the country. We'd be delighted to help them define “reasonable” based on the many examples around the world. If an amount is reasonable for an American, an

Finance committee  The Canadian wine industry already exports its wine to the tune of more than $20 million a year, and this figure—

Finance committee  Right.

Finance committee  No. We import well over a billion dollars into this country—

Finance committee  No, not even close.

Finance committee  It's a small industry, but we're going to be more powerful exporters if we're stronger in our domestic market. There is no exception to that in the wine world. The powerful exporting countries are very strong in their domestic markets. While it's not an immediate intent, it wil

Finance committee  Consumers in non-grape wine producing provinces and that jurisdiction would benefit from helping to build a national wine industry that all Canadians could be proud of. Americans are proud of their wine industry; the French are proud of theirs. If national pride isn't a good eno

Finance committee  About 17% of the national market is imported.

Finance committee  In principle, yes.

Finance committee  It must also be done in a reasonable time.

Finance committee  You never know with the government. If it is going to take 10, 15 or 20 years, we do not have the time. But, in principle, I would agree with something up to 18 months.

Finance committee  Even if it is 2% of the total wine market in Canada, in my opinion the overwhelming majority of the trade is going to be 100% Canadian VQA premium and super-premium wine. On a national market share basis, the wines I just described have 6% of the national market. If 2% of the nat

Finance committee  I'm a wine producer, not a lawyer, but I am interested in a bill that is trade compliant. If that has to permit some imported wine to be traded, so be it. If that means blended wines, so-called ICB wines, or international-Canadian blends, are traded, so be it. The fact is that t

Finance committee  If we were to sell a $75-dollar-per-bottle case of ice wine in retail, we collect on that case $152.59 in taxes—both provincial and federal taxes. These transactions generate lots of revenue for both the federal and the provincial government. I can't comment on the entire IILA.

Finance committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I will make my remarks in English, but if any members of the committee prefer to ask me questions in French afterwards, I can answer in French. As I just said, I will deliver my main remarks in English. My name is Paul Bosc. I'm the president o