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Coleman caught up in beer controversy

Beer tax rules cause controversy, with fundraiser auction items in the spotlight.

Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman is caught up in a controversy over a possible change to liquor rules, which prompted concerns from fellow Liberal MLAs.

 

Coleman, minister responsible for liquor policy,  is looking into easing taxation for medium-sized breweries, notably Pacific Western Brewery of Prince George. A pending change in regulations prompted members of the National Breweries Association, which represents large brewers, to contact MLAs. There are two large breweries in B.C. —Molson Coors in Vancouver, and Columbia Brewing in Creston, owned by Labatts, which in turn is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

 

Pacific Western, which was formerly the Uncle Ben's Brewery, is the largest medium-size brewer in B.C. If it exceeds 160,000 hectolitres of production in a year, the tax rate on all its production goes up. The large brewers pay the higher tax. Lower tax rates on smaller production volumes were brought in to encourage craft breweries, which have thrived in B.C.

 

Coleman said Wednesday that he would be issuing a new regulation Thursday, but on Thursday reporters were told it would not be issued that day.

 

Part of the controversy comes from the fact that Pacific Western president  Kazuko Komatsu donated two week-long stays in The Bahamas as auction items at Coleman's Nov. 8 fundraiser at the Langley Events Centre. The two week-long stays were valued at $27,000, although they didn't fetch that much during the auction.

 

Pacific Western beer was also available at the fundraiser. It is always available at Coleman events.

 

- with files from Tom Fletcher, Black Press