MP accused of beer tax bias

[Mississauga Matt]

From http://www.nationalpost.com

The chairwoman of the powerful Commons finance committee yesterday became embroiled in a conflict-of-interest controversy after the opposition suggested she deliberately scuttled amendments to a tax bill that would have helped Canadian microbreweries.

Opposition MPs accused Sue Barnes, who is also an MP for the Ontario riding of London West, of killing proposed tax amendments to a tax bill because her husband, a Labatt Breweries executive, is opposed to the changes.

Ms. Barnes denied the allegations ...

... Canadian microbreweries complain that federal excise taxes on beer put them at a disadvantage compared to larger breweries and rivals in the United States and Europe, and say the heavy taxes are killing smaller brewers. All Canadian breweries each pay 28 cents tax per litre of beer brewed, compared with 9 cents per litre paid by small U.S. and European breweries.

Pierre Paquin, general manager of the Canadian Council of Regional Brewers, whose members include Unibroue Inc. of Quebec, Big Rock Brewery Ltd. of Alberta and the Granville Island Brewery of B.C., said the "tax inequity" has resulted in dozens of small regional craft brewers going bankrupt or being forced to merge with others...