Tim Hudak (MPP, Niagara West-Glanbrook), a conservative at Queen's Park, is again promoting a plan to allow "VQA-only" stores around the province.
At present, only stores owned by Vincor, Andres and others that were open before the GATT ruling against restricting imports in the late 80s can operate because they are "grandfathered". However, they can only sell their own wines, which means many small Ontario wineries have no retail outlets other than at their own wineries. The ruling Liberals say Hudak knows perfectly well that VQA-only stores around the province (which wouldn't sell imported wines) would break the trade agreement, and McGuinty and company have no plans to permit them.
Hudak rightly points out that British Columbia has VQA-only stores that sell wines from a wide range of BC producers, from small to large. Michael Pinkus (pictured left) snaps a pic of a sign for one in Oliver, BC. But BC also has privately operated wine stores such as the excellent Marquis Wines in Vancouver. It is not only allowed to sell imports, it's managed to dominate the BC market for Bordeaux Futures - and the BC Liquor Board now waits for them to set the price.
According to this article in the Welland Tribune, Hudak is now suggesting that if Queen's Park were to go ahead and permit VQA-only stores to give the little guys a chance to sell their products, "foreign-based wines that currently dominate shelves at the LCBO would be hard pressed to complain." This seems like a half-measure, but then again, why not?
As there is no talk of privatizing the LCBO, or even opening up the market to independent retailers as British Columbia has done, this could be a viable option. And all the risk would be borne by the proprietors if it was made clear that in the event of a successful legal challenge from the US or EU, they might have to shut down.
Here's another take on the BC VQA system, with an enlightening look at what New York State is doing on the same front with its local wines. Surely they're bound by the same agreements as we are? Read this St. Catharines Standard piece.
