GST Relief on Food & Alcohol, SPARK: BC Liquor & Cannabis Conference, LDB holiday delivery schedule, and more! ----------------------------------------------- |
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Liquor Industry Update: November 28, 2024 |
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Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private liquor industry: - A Message from ABLE BC's LRS Policy Committee
- Proposed GST Relief on Food & Alcohol: Tax Break for All Canadians Act
- LDB Holiday Delivery Schedule
- SPARK: BC Liquor & Cannabis Conference Registration Open!
- Order Your 2025 ID Checking Guides
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Share Your Input on Metro Vancouver's Solid Waste Management Plan
- Industry Tuesdays at The Good Sauna
What you'll find in every newsletter: |
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A Message from ABLE BC's LRS Policy Committee
ABLE BC’s LRS Policy Committee, Chaired by Director Mike McKee (JAK’s), meets regularly to monitor industry issues and work on solutions for BC’s private liquor store owners. With the direct support of ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard, this group engages with the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) and the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) on behalf of our members.
Recently, the LRS Policy Committee met with Sairose Fisher (ADM Liquor Wholesale Operations) and Renu Bains (Director Wholesale Supply Chain) to discuss distribution for the busy holiday season. We are pleased to report that the LDB is well prepared for holiday orders, with a healthy inventory of popular and high-end items, single bottle pick SKUs, and spec products. They do not anticipate stockouts but will be able to quickly re-stock if needed.
Notifications about holiday delivery schedules (more on this below) have been sent to all licensees. The LDB is committed to delivering on schedule and will ensure third-party delivery companies, like Van Kam, honour delivery windows. If you have any issues with late deliveries, please contact the Wholesale Customer Centre and ABLE BC right away.
The LRS Policy Committee also met with David Hume, General Manager of the LCRB, to discuss serious concerns about interprovincial retailing. As many of you aware, some Alberta liquor retailers are shipping products directly to customers in BC, which is against the law, risks putting liquor in the hands of minors, and hurts LRS profitability.
ABLE BC and the LCRB are committed to stopping illegal interprovincial retailing. You can help us by sending examples of this practice to lcrb.investigations@gov.bc.ca with the subject line Interprovincial Retailing. If you have questions, please contact Jeff Guignard at jeff@ablebc.ca. |
Proposed GST Relief on Food & Alcohol: Tax Break for All Canadians Act
The federal government has proposed legislation to temporarily relieve GST on food and some alcohol, Bill C-78 Tax Break for All Canadians Act. If the proposed legislation passes, businesses will be required to remove GST from food, non-alcoholic beverages, and all wine, beer, and ciders, and spirit coolers up to 7% ABV from December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025.
The legislation was introduced yesterday, November 27, and clearly outlines which alcohol products are proposed to be GST exempt: Eligible beverage means a beverage that is - (a) beer or malt liquor;
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(b) wine, or another beverage, that is produced without distillation, other than distillation to reduce the absolute ethyl alcohol content, by the alcoholic fermentation of a plant or product described by subparagraphs (a)(i) to (iii) of the definition wine in section 2 of the Excise Act, 2001;
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(c) sake;
- (d) a beverage described by paragraph (b) or (c) that is fortified not in excess of 22.9% absolute ethyl alcohol by volume;
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(e) an alcoholic beverage that is packaged, as defined in section 2 of the Excise Act, 2001, and that does not contain more than 7% of absolute ethyl alcohol by volume at the time that it is packaged; or
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(f) an alcoholic beverage that is a mixture containing one or more of the beverages described in paragraphs (a) to (e) and not containing any other alcoholic beverage.
A temporary GST relief offers savings to customers and may help increase sales during the holidays, but implementation presents several challenges.
We understand many members are frustrated with the administrative burden of the proposed temporary GST relief. We are working with our government partners to gain more clarity and will continue to provide updates as they are available.
Please refer to our FAQ for more detailed answers to your questions. You can read more about GST relief from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) here. |
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People Working Well
The CMHA BC and go2HR have created a resource for tourism and hospitality employers and employees dealing with mental health challenges at work. |
| Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter
Sign up for our Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter to learn more about our advocacy for cannabis retailers. Click here to read past cannabis newsletters. |
| ABLE BC Member Portal The Member Portal is your hub for all resources and benefits available to ABLE BC members. Contact jesse@ablebc.ca if you need help logging in. |
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LDB Holiday Delivery Schedule
To support your business during the busy holiday season, BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) Wholesale Operations would like to advise customers and vendors of the following operational updates.
Notifications of changes to holiday shipping schedules:
Impacted customers have been sent email notifications of any changes to their holiday shipping schedules. If you have not received a notification, please contact the Wholesale Customer Centre here. A reminder notice will be emailed on December 2, 2024. If you are not contacted there will be no change to your schedule. Distribution Centre receiving schedule:
Please note that there will be no changes to the receiving schedule at the Distribution Centre.
The Distribution Centre will be closed on December 25, 2024, and January 1, 2025. Wholesale Customer Centre (WCC) holiday hours: The WCC is open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. from November 18 to December 31, 2024.
The WCC will be closed on December 25, 2024, and January 1, 2025.
The WCC reminds all customers to build-up inventory early for the upcoming holiday season, as unpredictable winter weather could impact deliveries of holiday shipments. Please ensure orders are placed on-time, and all payment methods are available to avoid delivery delays.
If you have any questions, please contact the WCC by emailing or calling 604-775-0681 or 1-888-775-0681 (toll free). |
SPARK: BC Liquor & Cannabis Conference Registration Open!
Registration for SPARK: BC Liquor & Cannabis Conference is now open!
Early bird rates are now available for ABLE BC members and non-members. Register before January 10, 2025, to secure the best price for BC's premier liquor and cannabis conference.
All conference registrations include breakfast, lunch, networking reception with the BC Tourism Industry Conference, vendor marketplace, and access to all educational sessions, advocacy updates, workshops, and panel discussions. Get pumped for a full day of liquor and cannabis advocacy, engaging with representatives from the LDB and LCRB, networking with like-minded business owners, and learning from industry experts in the liquor and cannabis fields. |
Member Rates Early Bird: $395 | Regular: $549
Log in to the Member Portal to secure your member rate.
Questions about the portal or ABLE BC memberships? Contact jesse@ablebc.ca.
Non-Member Rates Early Bird: $495 | Regular: $649
All liquor, cannabis, tourism, and hospitality industry members are welcome! |
Order Your 2025 ID Checking Guides
The NEW 2025 North American ID Checking Guide and NEW 16th Edition International ID Checking Guide are now available to order through ABLE BC.
Place your order before January 10, 2025, to secure our group buying discount! |
ID Checking Guides help you and your staff make accurate, on-the-spot verification of driver’s licenses and ID cards – your best protection against ID fraud. These books also help ensure you are kept updated on the latest versions of all ID formats. |
Share Your Input on Metro Vancouver's Solid Waste Management Plan
Metro Vancouver is updating its solid waste management plan to enhance waste reduction, recycling, and greenhouse gas reduction, supporting a zero-waste and circular economy.
As part of this effort, they are gathering feedback from businesses, communities, and residents—including hospitality and retail professionals like you. This is a key chance to ensure our industry’s views on waste management and environmental impact are heard.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your thoughts on waste reduction strategies and priorities. Your input will help shape the future of waste management in the Lower Mainland. |
Industry Tuesdays at The Good Sauna
The Good Sauna is running industry community sessions at 3pm and 5pm on every Tuesday! These sessions are only $30 and open to anyone working in the hospitality or liquor retail industry. Private group sessions (up to 12 people) for industry are also available for just $350. Contact info@thegoodsauna.com to book your session. |
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Ask an Expert:
The Basics of Strikes & Lockouts
Ryan Anderson, ABLE BC’s employment law expert and Partner at Mathews Dinsdale is back for another edition of Ask An Expert and continuing his series on unionization. This week, Ryan explains the basics of strikes and lockouts.
What is a Strike?
A union strike occurs when unionized employees collectively refuse to work or to perform certain duties. A strike is a legally authorized pressure tactic, intended to persuade an employer to accept the union’s collective bargaining demands by disrupting or halting the employer’s business and impacting profitability. What is a Lockout?
A lockout occurs when the employer suspends operations, eliminating employees’ opportunity to work. This puts pressure on employees and their union in the collective bargaining process. A lockout is a common employer response to disruptive strike tactics short of a full walkout – e.g. rotating strikes or refusal to perform certain duties. When can a Strike or Lockout Occur?
Strikes and lockouts are not permitted during the term of a collective agreement. Even after a collective agreement has expired (or if a first collective agreement has not yet been reached), the following conditions must be met before a lawful strike or lockout can occur: -
the parties must engage in collective bargaining and make a good faith effort to reach an agreement;
- a majority of unionized employees must vote for a strike, and the results of that vote must be filed with the Labour Relations Board. Lockout votes are only required if multiple employers are involved;
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strike or lockout notice must be given to the other party and filed with the Board at least 72 hours in advance; and
- if a mediator is appointed, at least 48 hours must have passed from the end of mediation.
Can an Employer Still Operate During a Strike or Lockout? Yes, but the Labour Code imposes certain restrictions on who can perform work normally performed by struck or locked-out unionized employees. Lawful replacement workers must have: - been hired/engaged by the struck or locked-out employer before notice to bargain was given or bargaining started (whichever happened first); and
- ordinarily worked at the struck or locked-out location.
It is not lawful to transfer managers or other employees from other locations to work at a struck or locked-out location unless they meet the conditions set out above. What is Picketing and Where Can It Occur? Login to the Member Portal to read the rest of the article and learn about picketing.
When a strike or lockout appears to be a possible outcome in collective bargaining, an employer should engage in contingency planning well in advance so they have a plan in place to withstand a potential labour dispute. That’s where the team at Mathews Dinsdale comes in. Reach out to Ryan Anderson at 604-638-2042 or randerson@mathewsdinsdale.com if you have any questions about strikes or lockouts. |
Interested in becoming an ABLE Expert? Contact jesse@ablebc.ca to learn more. |
Cannabis Corner: Canna Winter Clothing Drive
Give back this holiday season! Join us in collecting new or gently used winter clothing and blankets to donate to those in need.
Participating stores will collect donations until December 18. Volunteers will pick up donated items and deliver to Lookout Housing & Health Society. Interested in collecting donations or volunteering? Contact nramzan@highmarkbrands.com. |
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go2HR on Tap: Advice for Handling Tips & Tipping Policies
go2HR is a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Liquor Industry Update newsletter, providing tips and guidance on current HR trends, new legislation, employee recruitment and retention, and more. To read the latest instalment, sign in to the member portal or sign up for the newsletter.
Setting up a well-planned and clear tipping policy for your employees is key to running a successful business. Whether cash or electronic tips, bar, pub, and retail owners and employees need to understand the different handling methods. Owners and managers must ensure their tipping policy complies with payroll tax requirements. Here are some key points to consider when setting up your tipping policy.
Creating a Transparent Policy: Transparency is crucial! A good tipping policy clearly defines how tips are pooled, distributed, and reported. Here’s a helpful tip (no wordplay intended): to avoid disputes, include your tipping policy in the employee handbook and review it during staff onboarding. At this stage, new hires can ask questions and clarification about your tipping policy.
Payroll Tax Requirements: Electronic and cash tips are considered taxable income. Keep in mind that there are special handling methods for employers to consider when reporting tips. Electronic tips are controlled by the employer, making them subject to payroll taxes. Cash tips are given to the employee, who is responsible for declaring them on their tax returns. Employers have no payroll obligations for cash tips.
Do you want to learn more about handling tips and creating a tipping policy? go2HR’s Regional HR Consultant Christie Blaquiere shares more expert advice in her full article, which you can read here. You can also sign up for a free consultation with go2HR’s HR team.
go2HR, the HR and health and safety association for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has a wealth of resources to support you. We invite you to connect with us to learn more about how you can support your employees with health and safety at safety@go2HR.ca.
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Out and About with ABLE BC
Did you know that Jeff Guignard, ABLE BC's Executive Director, is a semi-professional curler? Last week Jeff led Team BC to the playoffs at the Everest Canadian Curling Club Championship in Barrie, Ontario. Jeff and his team secured an impressive four wins in pool play before losing in the quarter finals. One of Team BC's games was even broadcast live on TSN. Read more about Jeff and Team BC here |
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Jeff Guignard at the Everest Canadian Curling Club Championship. Photo courtesy of Curling Canada/Maranda St. Pierre |
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars Check out these upcoming events: - Getaway with Wines of Portugal, Vancouver, December 3
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IVSA Festive Lunch, Vancouver, December 10
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Vancouver International Wine Festival, February 22-March 2, 2025
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SPARK: BC Liquor & Cannabis Conference, Vancouver, March 5, 2025
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BC Tourism Industry Conference, Vancouver, March 5-7, 2025
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WORTH Leadership Summit, Vancouver, March 11, 2025
- Victoria Cocktail Week, April 13-20, 2025
- BCHA Summit, Vancouver, April 22-23, 2025
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