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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Alcohol tax cuts in Ontario are in effect. Here's what you need to know
An LCBO employee moves products in an LCBO store at Union Station in Toronto on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor Ontario's largest alcohol tax cut in decades officially takes effect today, with the provincial government cutting levies and LCBO markups in an effort to shield local producers from global trade tensions. The changes, announced in the 2025 provincial budget include significant tax relief for spirits, cider, and ready-to-drink beverages (RTDs), along with new support for microbreweries. While the Ford government says the move is a response to U.S. trade policies, industry experts say some sectors will remain largely unaffected but others could see some new growth. What's changing and who benefits? In an email to CTV News Toronto, the Ministry of Finance says the cuts include a 50 per cent reduction in the spirits basic tax rate for distilleries with on-site retail sales, a nearly 50 per cent cut to LCBO markups on cider, and reduced markups for wine- and spirit-based ready-to-drink beverages with alcohol content under 7.1 per cent. Beer made by Ontario microbreweries will also benefit, with reductions to both LCBO markups and the beer basic tax, along with enhancements to the province's Small Beer Manufacturers' Tax Credit. 'In the face of President Trump's tariffs and tariff threats taking direct aim at our economy, we are protecting Ontario business with the largest tax cut to the alcohol industry in decades,' a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Finance said. The province is also allocating $100 million in 2025–26 and $155 million in 2026–27 to support these changes. Scott Simmons, president of the industry trade association Ontario Craft Brewers, said the reforms mark a defining moment for the province's beer industry. 'The tax cut that takes effect today is a game changer for Ontario's craft beer sector, one of the biggest things to happen to the industry in a generation, and a great day for locally-owned craft breweries, craft beer lovers, and communities across Ontario,' Simmons said in a statement. 'We represent 80 per cent of all direct brewing jobs in Ontario, and today's tax changes have put it on a path that will see breweries grow, create even more jobs, invest in their communities, and get more local beer on store shelves — I think that's something we can all cheers!' The government also says this is part of a broader effort to modernize Ontario's alcohol marketplace. Not all sectors will see the same relief The Ontario Craft Wineries association says most of today's changes won't directly impact traditional wine producers, who saw earlier reforms of their own. 'With regards to taxation and other supports, OCW received some big wins recently including the elimination of the 6.1 per cent wine basic tax and an extension and uncapping of the VQA Support Program,' Michelle Wasylyshen, president and CEO of Ontario Craft Wineries, said in a statement. But Wasylyshen noted there's still more work to be done to level the playing field. One top priority, she said, is removing the LCBO administration fee charged to wineries for sales to restaurants — a fee that's applied even though 'the LCBO (is) not providing a service in this transaction.' She added that the recent shift toward Canadian-made products still presents a rare window of opportunity for domestic wine producers. 'The 'Buy-Canadian' movement has given us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get our products into the hands of consumers, onto store shelves and into restaurants,' Wasylyshen said. 'Our biggest priority continues to be in sustaining (that) incredible boost in sales.' What comes next? While the results of the new framework remain to be seen, the province says they will continue to 'champion' domestic businesses. 'We will continue to champion Ontario and Canadian businesses as we work to build a more self-reliant and resilient economy.'
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
U.S. has 'very, very good plan' to end war in Gaza, envoy tells hostage families
U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy told families of hostages being held by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday that he was working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. Trump has made ending the conflict a major priority of his administration, though negotiations have faltered. Steve Witkoff is visiting Israel as its government faces mounting pressure over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the enclave. In a recording of the meeting, reviewed by Reuters, Witkoff is heard saying: "We have a very, very good plan that we're working on collectively with the Israeli government, with Prime Minister Netanyahu ... for the reconstruction of Gaza. That effectively means the end of the war." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his remarks. Witkoff also said that Hamas was prepared to disarm in order to end the war, although the group has repeatedly said it will not lay down its weapons. WATCH | U.S. envoy visits controversial aid site: U.S. envoy visits controversial aid site as Gaza starvation crisis worsens 17 hours ago WARNING: Video contains distressing images | The U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, visited Gaza on Friday to inspect a controversial aid distribution site, backed by the U.S. and Israel, after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. In response to the reported remarks, Hamas, which has dominated Gaza since 2007 but has been militarily battered by Israel in the war, said it would not relinquish "armed resistance" unless an "independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital" is established. Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war and deal for the release of half the hostages ended last week in deadlock. On Saturday, Hamas released its second video in two days of Israeli hostage Evyatar David. In it, David, skeletally thin, is shown digging a hole, which, he says in the video, is for his own grave. Witkoff met with Netanyahu on Thursday. Afterward, a senior Israeli official said an understanding between Israel and Washington was emerging that there was a need to move from a plan to release some of the hostages to a plan to release all of the hostages, disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip, echoing Israel's key demands for ending the war. Starvation in Gaza On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating ceasefire efforts, endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As part of it, they said Hamas must hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. Witkoff arrived in Israel with Netanyahu's government facing a global outcry over devastation in Gaza and the starvation growing among its 2.2 million people. The crisis has also prompted a string of Western powers to announce they may recognize a Palestinian state. WATCH | Canada intends to recognize Palestinian statehood. Here's what that could mean: Canada intends to recognize Palestinian statehood. Here's what that could mean | Hanomansing Tonight 3 days ago On Friday, Witkoff visited a U.S.-backed aid operation in southern Gaza, which the United Nations has partly blamed for deadly conditions in the enclave, saying he sought to get food and other aid to people there. Dozens have died of malnutrition in recent weeks after Israel cut off all supplies to the enclave for nearly three months from March to May, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It said on Saturday that it had recorded seven more fatalities, including a child, since Friday. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps for more aid to reach its population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, airdrops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. UN agencies have said that airdrops of food are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and quickly ease the access to it. The war in Gaza began when a Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostage in an attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Election in Kanehsatà:ke cancelled at last minute
A general election scheduled for Saturday in the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) community of Kanehsatà:ke was cancelled at the last minute Friday evening, with the chief electoral officer denouncing "numerous flaws" in the existing electoral code. In a statement shared on the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake's Facebook page, Chief Electoral Officer Graeme Drew outlined his decision. "Due to numerous flaws in the Custom Electoral Code resulting in an inevitably flawed election process, I met with the incumbent Council and informed them earlier today of my decision to stop this election," wrote Drew. He noted a lack of provisions in the code "for ensuring that electors are duly informed throughout the election process." The chief electoral officer also stated that timelines were "unworkable" and didn't allow for the proper screening of candidates and, because of that, the names of several ineligible nominees appeared on the ballots. Drew further expressed concern over the power given to appeal board members to "vote over" all other electors when determining who will be grand chief and chief in the case of a tie, saying the method was "unacceptable." Six chief positions and one grand chief position were set to be determined in the general election. WATCH l Political infighting in Kanehsatà:ke leads to frustration: Saturday's election was deemed crucial for the community, located northwest of Montreal, and seen as a way to resolve a months-long political impasse stemming from a leadership crisis within the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. In March, the band council's ethics commission removed Victor Bonspille from his position as grand chief by declaring his seat vacant. Bonspille, however, refused to recognize the decision and continued to attend ceremonies as grand chief. He was hoping to be re-elected as grand chief on Saturday, with council chiefs Brant Etienne and Serge Otsi Simon, also a former grand chief, vying for the position as well. Gleaning from past experiences, he said the process of ratifying an amended electoral code, followed by a candidate nomination period and campaigning means the community might see an election in about six months. CBC News reached out to both the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake and the minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit for comment but had yet to hear back.
