Minister Pierre Poilievre and local Conservative Candidate Marshall Neufeld meet with community and business leaders in Oliver and Penticton this week.

Democratic Reform Minister Poilievre accompanied by Neufeld visited The Gleaners Okanagan, a volunteer group that turn discarded vegetables into dried soup mixes for shipment across the world to communities in need. “Our Government continues to support the work that this group and other local organizations do by maintaining a low-tax agenda and putting more money in the hands of Canadians to invest in their community,” said Minister Poilievre.

Minister Poilievre held a roundtable with local members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 97 to discuss the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War and how Canadians across the country can carry out a variety of commemorative initiatives to mark the tremendous sacrifices and accomplishments of all those who served during the Great Wars.

“This represents a unique opportunity for Canadians to reflect on our country’s long and proud military history,” said Minister Poilievre. “Throughout this period, the Government of Canada will be working with communities to commemorate the sacrifices of all the brave men and women that fought for our freedom and peace”.

Minister Poilievre and Marshall Neufeld also received a tour of Road 13 Vineyards in Oliver, one of the local wineries from B.C.’s vibrant wine industry and held a roundtable with local vintners. In his address to the group, Minister Poilievre highlighted what the Government of Canada has been doing to remove barriers to internal trade.

“Moving wine across provincial borders creates regional internal trade issues which is simply bad for business. This is an issue for wineries here because the rules allowing Canadians to import directly from out-of-province wineries are not consistently aligned across the country,” noted Marshall Neufeld.

On June 28 of 2012, Member of Parliament for Okanagan—Coquihalla, Dan Albas passed Bill C-311 “An Act to amend the Importation of intoxicating liquors Act” to allow the free trade of wine over provincial borders. However, according to the B.C. Wine Institute, British Columbia allows consumers to order for delivery 100-percent Canadian grape wine from other provinces for personal consumption, but does not receive the same treatment in return from other provinces. This is why the Government of Canada will continue to promote the opening of inter provincial trade barriers, reduce red tape and allow for Canadian businesses to grow from coast to coast to coast.

During Minister Poilievre’s tour of the South Okanagan, he and Marshall Neufeld also met with Chief Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band, Chief Kruger of the Penticton Indian Band, Tim Hodgkinson of the Penticton Hospitality Association and visited Lang Vineyards in Naramata with manager Mike Lang.