Prince Edward County is hoping to boost the local wine industry once again.
Tuesday night, Prince Edward County council unanimously passed a vote to have a letter of support for the Prince Edward County Local Grape and Wine Industry be sent to the Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy, and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson.
As Ontario prepares its 2022 provincial budget, the county’s letter of support asks for the provincial government to undertake the following policies:
- The elimination of the 6.1 % Basic Wine Tax charged on VQA/100% Ontario-grown wines.
- Uncapping of the VQA Wine support program through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
- Reconvene the Government Grape and Wine Secretariat.
With close to 40 operating wineries in the region, Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson says the letter is similar to ones sent in the past and is fully supportive of the recommendations.
“I’m fully supportive of it and I hope everybody is here because our wine industry is a significant contributor to our economy.”
