“The problem that we have in society at the moment is that everyone is afraid to make a mistake. Everyone is afraid of the consequence of error but the greatest error is not to move. The greatest error is to be paralyzed by the fear of failure.”

Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO Executive Director speaking on emergency management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has had to adapt fast to a changing global environment, both in keeping our health by social distancing and also, in our case, with regards to continuing to provide a product that also supplies a large amount of tax (in our case 48% of gross revenue) back to Ontarians. In order to meet the demand of our product and to be able to continue our business in this "new normal", we are asking the Government of Ontario and the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to remove an old restriction called the "Five Acre" rule. We ask that both of these entities agree to PERMANENTLY allow those cideries/wineries without five acres to be permitted to sell their product through retail channels as are allowed by those with five acres along with Ontario breweries and distilleries. We propose that, in order to increase the planting of new trees and to also protect those orchards and vineyards who have invested in planting and maintaining those acreages, that they be given a small reduction in the amount of  tax remitted per litre of hard cider/wine sold per acre of apple trees (based on existing tree density/acre measurements as used by AGCO). Existing spreadsheet based forms that ALL manufacturers complete on a monthly basis can be easily modified and this entire process can be audited for nominal cost.

This petition seeks to use the elimination of the "Five Acre" rule to provide more revenue streams to struggling Ontario cideries/wineries also categorized as "essential services" during this crisis and, as importantly, to help raise more taxes for the Government of Ontario to help fund requirements for the COVID-19 pandemic and other equally important tax programs when this crisis has subsided.  Additionally, this will provide a tertiary environmental benefit to new and existing orchards and vineyards to plant more Ontario apple trees which may also potentially aid in the presently declining bee population. It's truly a positive solution for all.

#NOFIVEACRERULE