Wynne checks out wine and grapes

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, stopped by Niagara College in Niagara-on-the-Lake Monday afternoon to announce a plan to renew the grape and wine industry strategy. It’s a 75-million dollar, five-year marketing program, that will focus on promoting VQA wines: “We’re going to work with you on a program for selling Ontario wine at Farmer’s markets and look at how we can make that work in an economic and socially responsible way.”

If the Liberals stay in power, they also plan to have an Ontario Wine Fund to purchase specialized equipment and machinery as well as better marketing for wines locally and around the world. Wynne also plans to create a ‘Wine Secretariat’ to come up with ways to reduce red tape and help grape growers and wineries be more competitive. But the Premier has rejected calls to allow corner stores to sell beer and wine.

Later in the day, Wynne announced that Joyce Morocco is her preferred candidate to run in the upcoming Niagara Falls riding by election. Morocco is a city councillor. There still has to be a nomination meeting. Frank Raso of Stevensville says he tried to put his name up for the nomination but was told he didn’t have enough political experience.

The seat became vacant in September with the resignation of popular Liberal MPP Kim Craitor.