It would certainly give the industry some relief. The St. Lawrence Distillery had actually been in business for ten years. It was part of the distillery landscape in Quebec. It was a pioneering visionary for the entire industry and operated in over 15 countries. Commercial success was in sight, but its wings were clipped by regulations and laws that date from the 1920s and tax spirits at a truly atrocious level. That is what caused the company to close.
At the Union québécoise des microdistilleries, we are very sad to see that a number of distilleries are also heading in that direction. Obviously you are not responsible for Quebec's laws, but reducing excise duties would enable the industry as a whole to recover, not just in Quebec but everywhere in Canada. There is a strong appetite for these kinds of products, not just in Quebec but also in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta, where there are a number of distilleries in operation.