As the voice of craft brewers in Ontario, the Ontario Craft Brewers Association (OCB) strongly supports the provincial government’s decision to remove and delist U.S. alcohol brands from LCBO store shelves in response to President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods.
American tariffs will hurt Ontario craft breweries, driving up costs on key inputs like the aluminium we use in our beer cans.
There are two things that must take place to help our small businesses weather the headwinds of this trade war:
First, the LCBO must seize this opportunity to truly support local. We call on the government and LCBO to ensure all American-owned brands are removed from store shelves and replaced with real locally-made beer, made in breweries owned by Canadians.
The positive impact of this move would be massive – it would help Ontario craft brewers withstand the coming tariffs, create more good jobs in our communities, and put more money back into the local economy at this critical time.
Second, the government must fast track its planned and long-needed tax reforms for the craft beer sector. As Ontario looks to support home-grown sectors and industries, it is critical that it move to immediately lower Ontario’s marginal tax rate, to help ensure craft breweries are in a position to compete, grow, and thrive now and into the future.