Another Brew-On-Premise Article

[mr x]

I'm all for less taxes. But that's not going to fly.

But is the wine industry in NS not subsidized? That is less tax. I think it's a feasible solution, rated to production.

[benwedge]

Paul Withers is reporting that Diana Whalen has backed down from the idea of a UVint tax. Good news.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

My email to minister Whalen succeeded! (Haha)

[mr x]

Somewhat surprised they backed down all the way. I thought maybe a quarter was reasonable.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

[pet lion]

Still possibly a lot of irritating restrictions that may put off some on-site wine making customers.

[mr x]

What else are they floating?

[pet lion]

Customers won't just have to pitch the yeast but have to put the kit together themselves.

[mr x]

Liberals don't plan U-vint levy

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia ... -vint-levy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

U-vint customers in Nova Scotia will have nothing to whine about when the province introduces regulations this spring for the operations.

“I’m not introducing these regulations in order to have an extra tax or fee,” Finance Minister Diana Whalen said Thursday.

Whalen was responding to concerns the regulations, based on those in Prince Edward Island, could include the potato province’s levy of 75 cents on each litre in a winemaking kit.

The minister said the province received a lot of feedback in the last two weeks from people concerned about the creation of such a new fee.

“I want to bring legislation in soon and I thought that was a good place to start, show all of the people in the industry what P.E.I. is doing and from there we will amend it to become our legislation,” the minister said. “I’m not wedded to any of the features that are in the P.E.I. regs at all.”

Whalen said it would have taken much longer to develop legislation from scratch. She said she was always uncomfortable with the P.E.I. fee.

Because the harmonized sales tax is charged on the sale of the service, existing businesses are hiring more people and new operations are opening, there’s more than enough new revenue coming in without the province needing to create a new tax, she said.

“My feeling is we’re already getting the benefit of more people working and more new businesses popping up. That’s positive.”

Wine Kitz Halifax owner Ross Harrington said he’s pleased, but not surprised to hear Whalen’s view.

“She’s very astute in judging which way the wind is blowing,” Harrington said. “She knows full well that a levy, which is nothing more than a cash grab by the province, is not palatable to the operators and certainly not to the public.”

Harrington said he’s heard from many clients turned off by the possibility of a new fee. He said he’d be “astonished” if the Liberals included a levy with the legislation when it’s introduced.

Whalen said the province is also close to announcing the person who will lead an independent review of Nova Scotia’s tax and fee systems.

Doing it independently means the process won’t get bogged down in government, said Whalen.

It’s her hope the report would be ready by the end of October and then incorporated into the 2015-16 budget.

[mr x]

U-vint tax halted in Nova Scotia

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot ... -1.2537154" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Nova Scotia government says it will not put an extra tax on wine brewed at U-vints stores.

Last week, Finance Minister Diana Whalen said the decision whether to put a levy on wine brewed in store would depend on what was heard in consultations.

The government floated the idea of adopting P.E.I.'s tax of 75 cents per litre or $17.50 for a typical kit.

“I just gave out the P.E.I. regulations for input. And the reason is it sped up the input so I’m able to bring in legislation in the spring rather than waiting until the fall. Because if we didn’t take P.E.I. we would have to write our own” she said.

Ross Harrington, owner of the Wine Kitz. in Halifax, said he didn't think a levy on his product would happen.

“I didn’t think it would come to fruition because I knew the pushback from the public would be sufficient for the government to say, ‘This is crazy.’ Personally, I knew that Diana wouldn't want that. But what an elected official wants versus what a department wants are two different things,” he said.

New regulations will come forward during the spring sitting of the legislature.

The right to make beer and wine in so-called U-vint stores flared up a year ago, when the province's Crown-owned liquor agency sought a court order to prevent the owners of Wine Kitz Halifax and Water 'n' Wine in New Glasgow from producing wine and beer in their shops.

The previous New Democratic government later ordered the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to drop the case in the face of a growing public backlash.

[Keith]

That's great news! I'm half tempted to brew my wine at these sites due to the pure hastle. not to mention by the time I rent all the filters, buy corks, etc, it costs a fortune and is a real pain in the ass.

[mr x]

U-vints have several suggestions for new legislation
NEW GLASGOW – The announcement from Diana Whalen, Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, on Feb. 14 that there won’t be a fee imposed on wine fermented at u-vints was good to hear for Charles Patton, owner of Water ‘N’ Wine.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2014-02 ... islation/1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The possibility of a levy was one of the biggest obstacles the industry was facing, Patton said.

He, and other businesses in the province, didn’t want to see the province go in that direction as they’ve been looking at P.E.I.’s regulations to build their own, which has a 75 cent fee on each litre of wine produced.

“Once we get legislation, we’ll know what we’re dealing with and can go forward,” Patton said.

The provincial government asked for input on regulations in January, and began consultations with stakeholders.

The consultations wrapped up early last week.

Whalen said she has supported the legalization of u-vints since 2007.

“After hearing from stakeholders, I am pleased to confirm that no new levy or fee will be introduced on ferment-on-premise products. Already, these businesses are expanding, hiring more Nova Scotians, and helping to grow our economy,” she said in a release.

She says the business model is working, and she will be meeting with owners and operators throughout Nova Scotia on her pre-budget tour.

“I have been clear with them that we are focused on removing barriers to economic growth. In turn, they are telling me that reducing red tape and unnecessary regulation is something that can make a difference.”

Patton said he will be attending a consultation with the province next week, and will know more at that point.

He, along with other brewing businesses across the province, have a number of suggestions for the new legislation.

“The group is unanimous in council that the P.E.I. policy and regulations don’t provide a good framework for Nova Scotia,” a report from the businesses said.

A number of the businesses have issues with restrictions on customer duties in producing the wine and the inability to offer assistance if needed, rules on advertising, and the walled separation of retail and production.

The report suggested New Brunswick’s regulations and parts of Ontario’s legislation as good points of reference for Nova Scotia.

Some of the other issues the report raised included the requirement for a beverage server certificate, and prior approval on design and renovations of the outlets.

Patton said he finds the reporting rules excessive as well.

They’re required to give monthly reports on how many bottles and batches they sell.

Patton feels they shouldn’t have to report at all.

The province agreed to develop new regulations after receiving a strong public response last year following an injunction from The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation against Water ‘N’ Wine and Wine Kitz in Halifax.

The new legislation is expected in the spring.

[mr x]

U-vint operations officially legalized in N.S.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... ized-in-ns" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New legislation introduced by the Liberal government officially legalizes U-vint operations in Nova Scotia.

Finance Minister Diana Whalen said the move supports a growing small-business sector, while also giving consideration to social implications. It also removes the ability for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to enact injunctions against such businesses where people can make their own wine.

Whalen said the government will now begin work on the regulations that accompany the legislation, but they would mostly be housekeeping items and not include a tax on the practice. There would likely be licence and application fees, but they would be nominal and similar to the $300 application fee and $500 three-year licence fee restaurants pay.

The move makes good on a Grit campaign promise and Whalen said it would likely be the end of changes to the Liquor Control Act from her government. She said there doesn’t appear to be as much public demand for changes, such as selling beer and wine in corner or grocery stores or privatizing the NSLC.

Tory Leader Jamie Baillie said that although he’s pleased to see the changes in legislation for U-vints, he’s disappointed the minister isn’t considering additional amendments, such as the ability to sell alcohol at sites other than NSLC outlets.

[mr x]

Legislation would allow U-Brew businesses in Nova Scotia
Finance Minister Diana Whalen says ammendments would allow in-store fermentation for wine and beer

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot ... -1.2611049" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nova Scotia U-Vint and U-Brew businesses would be able to make wine and beer inside stores under legislation introduced today.

Finance Minister Diana Whalen, who is responsible for the Liquor Control Act, says the amendments would allow licensing for fermentation on store premises.

Whalen says the amendments would also repeal a section of the act that allowed Nova Scotia Liquor to seek injunctions against in-store brewing.

The issue of stores making wine and beer on-site flared up a year ago, when the province's Crown-owned liquor agency sought a court order to prevent the owners of Wine Kitz Halifax and Water 'n' Wine in New Glasgow from producing wine and beer in their shops.

The previous NDP government later ordered Nova Scotia Liquor to drop the case in the face of a growing public backlash.

Whalen said the government is drafting regulations that will be brought forward next month for review and feedback by the industry.