Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON – March 1, 2024 – Wine Growers Canada (WGC), the national association representing the Canadian wine industry, joined with Canadian wineries from coast to coast in welcoming today’s announcement of a three-year extension of the federal Wine Sector Support Program (WSSP). This initiative signifies the Government of Canada’s commitment to providing stability for wine growers, fostering incentives for investment, innovation, and overall growth within Canada’s expansive wine sector.
Introduced as a 2-year pilot program in 2022, the WSSP aimed to assist the Canadian wine industry in adapting to persistent challenges, including adverse climate events, surging inflation, and sustained competition from major wine-producing countries that dominate wines sales in Canada. The sector continued to grapple with many challenges.
Dan Paszkowski, President & CEO of Wine Growers Canada, emphasized the significance of today’s announcement, stating, “Canada’s 600 wineries and nearly 2,000 grape growers contribute significantly to job creation, drive rural economic development, and attract over 4 million wine country tourists annually. Today’s renewed investment serves as a foundation for Canadian wineries, investors, and associated businesses, guiding crucial decisions, particularly in the face of challenges like vine replanting. We applaud Minister MacAulay’s leadership and the Canadian Government’s continued partnership in advancing this important value-added industry deeply rooted in local agriculture.”
The extended Wine Sector Support Program will help provide certainty for grape-growing communities in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI. Its implementation is anticipated to provide a stable environment for wineries, fostering job creation and economic growth across Canada.
About Wine Growers Canada
Wine Growers Canada (WGC) is the national voice of the Canadian wine industry, with membership representing more than 90% of annual Canadian wine production. WGC members are engaged in the entire wine value chain, from grape growing, farm management & grape harvesting, to wine production, bottling, retail sales and tourism. WGC is dedicated to improving the business success and return on investment for individual wineries, while assuring the continued growth and prosperity of the entire Canadian wine industry.
Website: WineGrowersCanada.ca.
X: @winegrowersca
Media Contact
Caroline Henderson
Manager, Communications & Policy
Wine Growers Canada
caroline@wgcanada.ca