Dear Canadian Craft Brewers and Industry Suppliers and Supporters,
Elbows up! Canada’s economy is under threat and so is the future of Canadian craft beer.
After years of pandemic disruptions to the hospitality sector, skyrocketing inflation, high interest rates and shifting consumer demand, American tariffs on Canadian goods and services threaten to increase our input costs and throw our economy into recession.
But Canadian craft brewers are strong. Public desire to buy-Canadian is on the rise, and policymakers are waking up to the fact that a growing craft beer sector means a growing and stronger Canada. On April 28th, Canadians will decide who will lead us through this turbulent time, and that government will determine the future of Canada’s craft brewing industry.
That’s why we’re launching a grassroots campaign during this election calling on Canadian craft brewers and supporters to reach out to all political parties to make fixing Canada’s outdated and unfair excise tax system part of their election platform.
Due, in large part, to the craft beer sector’s advocacy over the last few years, the Federal Government took steps to temporarily reduce excise tax rates by 50% on the first 15,000 hL brewed starting April 1st of last year. This was an important step, but it is critical that the next government go further to extend this beyond two years, making the excise tax relief permanent while also increasing excise relief to the first 500,000 hL of beer brewed.
We need your help to make sure every future Member of Parliament (MP), in every community across Canada and from every party understands how they can stand up for locally owned Canadian craft beer.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
This election is your opportunity to speak directly with the people running to represent your community in Ottawa about the important role your brewery plays in your community and local economy, and most importantly, about the urgent need for excise tax reform.
We are asking brewers across the country to help put the future of craft beer on the ballot in this election by taking the following actions:
- Meet with candidates from all political parties running in your community and ask them to sign our pledge to lower excise taxes on craft brewers.
- Encourage your friends, family, staff and customers to visit www.supportcanadiancraftbeer.ca and send a letter to their local candidates using the easy-to-use letter-writing tool.
Everything you need to request, meet with and talk to the candidates running to become your MP is contained in a toolkit, found HERE. Simply follow the outlined steps to request a meeting and use the resources provided to help deliver our important message.
If you have any questions or need help reaching out to your local candidates, please email me at christine.comeau@ccba-ambc.org.
Together we are standing up for Canada’s independent and locally owned craft brewing industry.
Cheers,
Christine Comeau
Executive Director, Canadian Craft Brewers Association
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SOURCE: Canadian Craft Brewers Association (Press Release)
PHOTO CREDIT: Canadian Craft Brewers Association