Ontario to spend hundreds of millions to boost alcohol sector [Video]

Ontario plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars boosting the province’s alcohol sector, including programs to support grape farmers, wineries, distilleries and craft breweries.

The province will spend $175 million over five years as part of a new program designed to boost the number of Ontario grapes in blended wine. The province said the program will eventually double the percentage of Ontario grapes, “leading to the purchase of thousands of additional tonnes of Ontario grapes from farmers.”

The government is also making changes to help support the recently liberalized alcohol marketplace, with more than $250 million over the next two years to make it more competitive – and make booze more affordable. The changes include a tax rate cut for spirits at on-site distillery retail stores and a reduction in the microbrewer basic tax.

Last year the province liberalized rules on alcohol sales, allowing booze to be sold in …