Okanagan distillery leads petition to ‘Lift Canada’s Spirits’

An Okanagan-based distillery is spearheading a campaign to get the federal government to reduce one of the taxes Canadian distilleries have to pay.

Tyler Dyck, CEO of Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery which has locations in Vernon and Kelowna, has launched the Lift Canada’s Spirits petition for excise parity.

“Did you know that your favourite Canadian craft distilleries now pay seven times the tax load of distilleries in the United States and 25 times the tax load of Canadian craft breweries?” Dyck stated.

“As a distillery insider, we are betting that supporting authentic farm-to-flask local is important to you, and that’s why we needed you to know that Canadian craft distilleries need your help.”

Dyck is asking people who care that their whiskies, gins, vodkas and liqueurs are made locally from grain and fruit grown by local farmers, to consider signing the petition which he says will put Canada’s distillers on a level playing field with distilleries south of the border, and to also help Canadian distilleries get the same level of support as its Canadian craft brewing colleagues.

“Our family here at B.C.’s original craft distillery is proud to be leading the charge on behalf of the now more than 225 Canadian craft distilleries working hard to champion this Lift Canada’s Spirits initiative, and we thank you in advance for taking a moment to support this important petition,” Dyck remarked.

The company CEO said the change to the tax would make a big difference to help promote authentic farm-to-flask spirits production around the country.