News in Brief:
– Minister MacAulay announces a $177 million extension to the Wine Sector Support Program during his visit to Trius Winery, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of the Canadian wine sector.
– The program, originally launched in 2022, provides financial aid to wineries facing challenges like rising input costs and climate limitations, benefiting local grape growers and rural communities.
During a recent visit to Trius Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an extension to the Wine Sector Support Program.
This initiative, with an investment totaling up to $177 million over the next three years, aims to bolster the competitiveness of the Canadian wine sector and aid its adaptation to prevailing challenges.
Canada’s wine sector serves as a crucial economic catalyst, fostering business opportunities for local grape growers, and wine producers, and job creation in rural areas. Despite experiencing notable growth in recent years, the industry grapples with various pressures such as rising input costs, labour shortages, and climate-related adversities. These challenges directly affect local farmers and vineyard owners, impacting their financial resilience and competitive edge.
Originally launched in July 2022, the Wine Sector Support Program provides financial assistance to licensed Canadian wineries to navigate ongoing and emerging obstacles. The newly injected funds will further bolster the sector, encouraging investments to capitalise on its strengths and secure long-term viability. With this extension, the Government of Canada’s total investment in the program surpasses $343 million.
Minister MacAulay also announced two additional initiatives under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. These efforts, spearheaded by the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network, focus on advancing scientific research and enhancing the sector’s competitiveness. This includes substantial funding under the AgriScience Program and the AgriAssurance Program.
The announcement received positive feedback from industry stakeholders, including Dan Paszkowski, President and CEO of Wine Growers Canada, who emphasised the strategic importance of the program in fostering sustainable economic growth and job creation within rural communities.
