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July 8, 2009, Vancouver - Restaurant and bar owners in Alberta support yesterday's announcement by Premier Stelmach to immediately rescind the increases to the provincial mark-up on beverage alcohol included in April's budget, reported the Canadian Restaurant and
Foodservices Association (CRFA).
“This news couldn’t come at a better time
for Alberta operators, who are now entering the busy summer season,” says Mark
von Schellwitz, vice-president, western Canada for the CRFA. “Additional
alcohol beverage fees combined with rising minimum wage increases and declining
sales are squeezing restaurant operators and we're pleased that government is
recognizing that now is not the time for more taxes.”
CRFA and the Alberta Liquor Industry Round
Table voiced strong opposition to the mark-ups, which increased the cost of
beer, wine and spirits sold to licensees by an average of 30 per cent, and
thank the premier and the government of Alberta for listening to the concerns
of small business. Alberta’s 8,900 foodservice establishments directly employ
nearly 114,000 people, making it one of the province’s largest private-sector
employers.
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