Wine is our future!

 Why do governments insist on propping up failing industries when they could be helping small successful businesses grow?

Lynn Patterson met with Scott Brison and Faye Hill before the meeting.

  Member of Parliament Scott Brison asked this question when he spoke at the annual meeting of the Hantsport & Area Business Association on April 9. 

  He targeted wineries as the area which government should support. It is presently successful and which will grow with or without government support. But its future growth - with help- is immense with spinoff rewards for other sectors.
 When Brison started in politics in 1994 there were two wineries in Hants County / Kings County. Now there are 14. The Niagara area had 19 in 1994 and now has 130. 

  Recently representatives of Avondale Sky Windery and Sainte-Famille Wines approached Hantsport. West Hants, and Windsor for support in promoting wineries in particular and the area in general.

 In the past and present, the Annapolis Valley is known for its apple. But today it is also producing wines which are enjoyed around the world. And people who love Nova Scotia wines are visiting to see for themselves. Wineries are providing jobs which have positive spinoffs.

   Brison is currently writing a policy paper for all three levels of government to encourage them to work together to promote existing wineries and to encourage new ones. He spoke to wine growers who share his views and who are working on similar policies. 

• Underused prime agriculture land must be mapped. 
• Immigrants from European countries which have high unemployment and which have people who have worked in wineries must be encouraged to move to Nova Scotia.
•  Acadia University, the community colleges, and the Kentville Research Station can work together to train Nova Scotians to grow grapes and to make wine. 

  And these immigrants will give a welcome boost to a province which has an ageing population which is less productive and needs social services. Some will come with money to invest and they may have large families. 

  "I hope the province learned a lesson from Sydney Steel. You can't force water up a hill. You need to go the direction the water is going," he concluded. 

The audience which included several councillor was receptive to Scott's ideas.