B.C. brewery still operating despite closure threats
Liberal Party donor Pacific Western Brewing awaiting tax break
CBC News
Posted: Nov 24, 2012 3:20 PM PT
Last Updated: Nov 24, 2012 4:50 PM PT
Minister Rich Coleman says a new tax policy is currently being developed. (CBC)A brewery in Prince George, B.C., is still up and running despite warnings it would be forced to close this weekend because of changes to B.C.’s tax policy.
Pacific Western Brewing said it would be hit with a massive tax bill after increasing capacity launched the business into a higher tax bracket, outgrowing its micro-brewery status.
The company said it was considering layoffs or closure as a result of the increased taxes.
The provincial Liberals say an inadequate version of the tax policy was released earlier this month and a new policy is currently being developed, including changes that would address the problem.
But the announcement left Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for the province's liquor policy, facing allegations of political favouritism after it was revealed Pacific Western Brewing was a major donor to the Liberals and to Coleman's own re-election campaign.
The Liberals are expected to release the details of the new tax policy next week.
With files from The Canadian PressShare Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Retired police officer killed in Mexico remembered as animal lover
- A CFL player says a Vancouver woman killed in Mexico earlier this week will be remembered as a loving and generous person who loved animals. more »
- Body found inside burning van in East Vancouver
- Police are investigating after a man's body was found inside a burning van in East Vancouver Saturday morning. more »
- Protesters march against GMO giant Monsanto in 430 cities
- Marches and rallies against seed giant Monsanto were held across Canada, the U.S. and in dozens of other countries Saturday. more »
- Hundreds come out for Abbotsford's first pride march
- About two hundred people came out on Saturday for the first ever Fraser Valley Pride parade in Abbotsford, B.C., a city with deep religious roots. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Toronto mayor's brother says he never dealt drugs
- The brother of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has vehemently denied allegations in Saturday's Globe and Mail that he was involved in the illicit drug trade in the 1980s. more »
- Hockey Canada votes to ban bodychecking in peewee hockey
- Hockey Canada's board of directors voted to eliminate bodychecking from peewee-level hockey on Saturday in Charlottetown. more »
- Neil Macdonald: How serious is Obama about curbing the drone surge?
- In a key speech this week, the U.S. president set out a host of supposed new safeguards for America's controversial practice of remote-controlled rough justice. But as Neil Macdonald writes, the underlying rationale for drone use has not fundamentally changed. more »
- Ontario man lost in Australian mountains has survival skills
- The sister of an Ontario man who disappeared in Australia's Snowy Mountains nearly two weeks ago says she remains hopeful he will be found, partly because of his training as a Canadian Forces reservist. more »
- McDonald's CEO chastised by 9-year-old B.C. girl
- Dog snared on baited hooks near Vancouver's Grouse Grind trail
- UBC student took 'nose dive into water' after bridge collapse
- Motorists warned to avoid Washington bridge collapse area
- Body found inside burning van in East Vancouver
- Vancouver man abandons Porsche on B.C. ferry
- VIDEO: Cruise ship chaos kicks off season in Vancouver
- Railway conduit planned to ship oilsands bitumen
- Washington police blame bridge collapse on Alberta trucker
