Wine Sector Assistance Program

Federal government announces investment in Canadian wine sector

The federal government has announced the extension of the Wine Sector Assistance Program. Pictured is Anne-Marie Lemire (L), owner of Léon Courville Vinyeard, and Minister St. Onge at the Léon Courville Vinyeard. Photo: Taylor McClure

By Taylor McClure
Townships’ Daily News Bits
CIDI 99.1 FM
Published on 06/03/24 - Played on 05/02/24

The federal government has announced the extension of the Wine Sector Assistance Program with an additional investment of $177 million dollars over the next three years. 

At a press conference held at Léon Courville on March 4, Pascale St-Onge, Member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi and Minister of Canadian Heritage, told CIDI that the wine sector is an economic driver for Canada and the funding will allow vineyards across the country to start new projects, make new investments and address challenges. 

Since 2022, the Wine Sector Assistance Program has supported 43 projects in Brome-Missisquoi, said St-Onge, for a total investment of $2 million.

St-Onge added that the industry has also faced certain challenges in recent years, such as labour shortages and issues related to climate change, and the funding will help vineyards find solutions to maintain a thriving Canadian wine sector. 

(Editor’s note: This post was published on March 6 and it was updated on March 7 to correct the position of Minister St. Onge. She was referred to as the Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, but she is no longer in this role.)

Listen to the full interview below: