NEWMARKET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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The Newmarket Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) have released a new report, Refreshing the Sale of Beverage Alcohol in Ontario, outlining how the Province can modernize the sale and distribution of beverage alcohol and promote growth across all four categories – wine, beer, spirits and cider.
“There is significant potential for the beverage alcohol sector to be a force for economic growth that extends beyond just the expected industries,” said Tracy Walter, President & CEO of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. “The production, distribution and sale of alcohol has a ripple effect that benefits agriculture, tourism and hospitality, and retail in all corners of the province.”
The report finds that despite significant public support for modernization, reform is a complex undertaking due to the complexity of legislation and regulation involved. As the government proceeds with reforms to beverage alcohol sales, the Newmarket Chamber and OCC underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to avoid perpetuating inequities in the taxation and regulation of wine, beer, cider, and spirits that limit growth.
“Ontarians want to see a modern, convenient beverage alcohol retail system and we are closer than ever to substantive reforms to how alcohol is distributed, bought, and sold in Ontario,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Refreshing the Sale of Beverage Alcohol in Ontario provides the Government of Ontario with a number of timely recommendations, including:
- Modernizing the sale of beverage alcohol by allowing beverage alcohol producers to sell their products on e-commerce marketplaces and platforms using third parties to process payments.
- Alleviating tax burdens by reducing taxes on Ontario wines, aligning taxation levels for craft cider with those of craft beer, and applying a graduated tax to the current spirits basic tax.
- Cutting red tape by reducing the reporting Ontario wineries and cideries have to complete from a monthly to quarterly basis, allowing Ontario spirits and craft beer producers with a retail store to sell their products at farmers’ markets, and providing airports with an exemption to allow for the sale of alcohol 24-hours-a-day.
- Removing antiquated inter-provincial trade barriers by allowing consumers to purchase alcohol online from other provinces/territories and producers to deliver these products to the consumer’s home.
“By removing barriers and levelling the playing field,” Rossi added, “The Province can unleash the potential of the beverage alcohol sector, support regional economic development, meet the needs of today’s consumer, and generate greater tax revenue to fund the public services on which Ontarians rely.”
Read the OCC’s report, Refreshing the Sale of Beverage Alcohol in Ontario here.
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