Finance committee  Thank you. I will first acknowledge Dan Albas and his colleague Ron Cannan for their instrumental work in getting the illicit liquor act of 1928 set back and in opening it up. Alcohol distribution is a provincial matter, and we've had some success. B.C. was the first to step forward and open our borders to other Canadian wines from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.

Finance committee  Unlike manufacturing or service enterprises, vineyards cannot simply get up and move to another country, which ensures that federal investment in the industry is maximized to benefit the Canadian economy, communities, and labour force. To conclude, the BCWI strongly recommends the introduction of a wine industry innovation program that aligns with government priorities, especially those relating to scaling up innovative industries, investing in environmental sustainability, developing and growing markets, and creating quality job opportunities for young Canadians, all of which will support a sound public investment towards supporting national economic prosperity.

Finance committee  Thank you very much indeed. My name is Miles Prodan. I am the president and executive director of the B.C. Wine Institute. I start off all my presentations by stating the fact that I do not have any samples with me this morning but I do know where you can get some, so bear with me.