After multiple devastating weather events over the last couple years, support is coming in two different approaches for fruit and grape growers.
In recent weeks, both the federal government and provincial government have announced support for the wine industry and fruit growers.
The federal government announced on March 1 that it would be putting $177 million into its Wine Sector Support Program over the next three years. On March 9, the government announced it would be capping the planned increase to alcohol excise tax to two per cent for the next two years, instead of the planned 4.7 per cent increase.
The approach has its critics, particularly as the funding for the support program is coming out of the excise tax and is tied to making full grant applications to the program and being selected to receive funding.
91裸聊视频淣ot everyone will apply for this,91裸聊视频� said MP Dan Albas, who represents the Central Okanagan- Similkameen -Nicola federal riding. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e spoken to many small growers or small vintners who said it91裸聊视频檚 a complicated process and they probably won91裸聊视频檛 apply.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not uniformly per capita to the size or volume that they produce, which would probably be a fairer method. People right now, especially small vintners are pulling their hair out because they91裸聊视频檙e trying to figure out if they can cash flow or secure grapes.91裸聊视频�
On the other hand, a provincial program was announced at the BC Wine Growers conference in Penticton on March 14, with $70 million from the provincial government set to go to help both grape growers and fruit growers.
91裸聊视频淚n B.C. and in the South Okanagan specifically, with the weather and the smoke we91裸聊视频檙e really struggling with grapes,91裸聊视频� said MLA Roly Russell, who represents the Boundary-Similkameen provincial riding.
91裸聊视频淚t was a challenging year last year and this season is again. From the dozens of people that I91裸聊视频檝e spoken to it91裸聊视频檚 just been outright devastating to a lot of those growers. We know how important agriculture is to our region and our province.91裸聊视频�
The provincial government91裸聊视频檚 $70 million is earmarked for both grape growers and fruit growers in B.C. such as those who produce cherries, which were also hit particularly hard over the last couple of years.
The new funding tops off the perennial crop renewal program worth $15 million announced last spring to help more than 200 producers remove diseased and unproductive plants and replace them with higher-quality crops. The new funding is said to help 1,000 producers revitalize their farms and protect their business.
The new funding is focused on helping local growers replant, with Premier David Eby stating at the March 13 announcement he hopes to see more resilient varietals planted for the future.
91裸聊视频淭hose producers understand that whatever crop they might have there are varieties most well suited for not just the climate we have but the climate we might have 20 years from now,91裸聊视频� said Russell.91裸聊视频�
The government has also earmarked some of the funds for identifying which particular varietals would be best to plant for climate resilience while staying suitable for the market.
The provincial government is also looking to streamline some of the bureaucracy around wineries to modernize them and make things easier going forward for things like tasting rooms and guided tours.
91裸聊视频淓stimates are the industry provides $3.75 billion into the economy and 14,000 jobs and that91裸聊视频檚 enormous,91裸聊视频� said Russell.
91裸聊视频淲hether you91裸聊视频檙e a hotelier, whether you are the the local florist, whether you are an event planner, all of those have a part in that strong tourist experience that is really rooted in the wine industry in many ways.91裸聊视频�
Whether the programs will be enough to ensure the wine and fruit industries thrive long-term remains to be seen, especially as weather events like the heat dome and deep freeze seem likely to only become more common in the future.
