Nova Scotia Wine Growers Abandon Government Aid Talks

Industry working group co-chair resigns, citing unproductive and disappointing negotiations with provincial government.

Karl Coutinho, co-chair of the working group and chairman of Wine Growers Nova Scotia, resigned over failed negotiations.
Premier Tim Houston had formed the group after pausing a controversial subsidy program for commercial wine bottlers.
Coutinho criticized the government's proposals as incomplete and poorly thought out, likening them to being written on a napkin.
Wine growers oppose subsidies for bottlers, arguing it would unfairly benefit foreign wines and harm local farmers.
Wine Growers Nova Scotia plans to request a meeting with the premier and may urge a public boycott of subsidized foreign wine products.