CRFA's Nova Scotia Lobbyist
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Luc Erjavec Vice President, Atlantic Canada T: 1-877-755-1938 E: luc@crfa.ca |
Highlighting industry issues in Nova Scotia
CRFA met with Nova Scotia Minister of Finance Maureen MacDonald to discuss taxes and beverage alcohol. Pictured left to right: CRFA’s Luc Erjavec, CRFA Director Chris Tzaneteas, Minister MacDonald and CRFA Director Robert McKelvie
(Oct. 31/12) In two separate meetings, CRFA raised industry issues with Nova Scotia’s new Minister of Finance Maureen MacDonald and Leader of the Official Opposition (Liberals) Stephen McNeil.
Meeting with Minister MacDonald
Along with CRFA Directors Robert McKelvie and Chris Tzaneteas, CRFA briefed Minister MacDonald on the restaurant industry’s size, scope and challenges. We discussed:
- government’s commitment to balance its budget in 2013 and reduce the HST;
- the need to lower taxes, given that Nova Scotia has some of the highest in the country (e.g. fuel, income, sales and corporate); and
- the need to offer the province’s licensees wholesale prices to stimulate the foodservice industry.
Further discussion will take place to explore the impact of wholesale prices on the industry and government revenues.
Meeting with Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil
With an election expected in the next 12 months, the Liberals are, for the first time in years, ahead of the governing NDP in public opinion polls. CRFA took this opportunity to meet with Minister McNeil and put the restaurant industry on the opposition’s radar. We urged his party to work with CRFA when developing policy, particularly on labour, minimum wage, taxation and healthy living.