Federal government announces $2.3M for Canadian wine industry

The federal government has announced $2.3 million in funding to help the Canadian wine industry.

It will go towards creating a national network of certified virus-free grapevines in an effort to ensure the long-term viability of the country’s vineyards.

The cash will be given to the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN) through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriAssurance program.

The CGCN is made up of four provincial growers’ associations – in B.C., Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec.

Its mission is to ensure Canada’s grapevines remain disease-free.

As part of the new project, the CGCN will catalogue existing samples from nurseries and grape growers across Canada to create a database.

"This funding is instrumental to the creation of a clean plant network for grapevines in Canada,” Hans Buchler, from the CGCN, said.

The Canadian wine industry generates $1.2 billion in revenue every year and employs more than 5,600 people.

Exports in 2016 were $133.6 million.