Gagliano Receives Federal Loan To Buy Vineyard

Dunham, Quebec

From the National Post:

MONTREAL -- A Montreal newspaper is reporting that a former cabinet minister in charge of the federal program linked to the sponsorship scandal has bought a vineyard in Quebec's Eastern Townships with a government loan of more than $500,000.

Montreal La Presse reported on the weekend that the purchase of the Dunham vineyard was registered last Friday in the Quebec Land Registry for $733,687. The loan from Farm Credit Canada, a federal Crown corporation, was for $550,000.

Alfonso Gagliano and his family plan to harvest the grapes in the next few weeks and sell their wine under the name Gagliano Vineyard by next spring, he told La Presse.

As public works minister in the late 1990s, Mr. Gagliano was responsible for the program geared to promote federalism in Quebec.

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My Comment: I also have a farm (vineyard) in Dunham. He is only a click away from my place. This makes my blood boil. The money that I invested came from my pocket and hard work .... it is infuriating that someone like him can use people's tax dollars to have some fun.

Question. I spent years learning about growing and making wine. What is his expertise?

SAQ Bag Surcharge A Hit With Shoppers

From Global Quebec:

Shoppers at the Société des alcools du Québec are welcoming a new surcharge on plastic and paper bags that goes into effect today.

Yesterday outside the SAQ Express on Ste. Catherine St. W., just about everyone said the extra fee was a good idea.

"I think it's great because people tend to throw their plastic and paper bags away after they use them," said shopper Edward Deer.

Stores across Quebec are now charging five cents for a single-bottle bag, 10 cents for a two-bottle bag, and 15 cents for a four-bottle bag.

The SAQ wants to do away with paper and plastic bags altogether by January. The company claims this will reduce the number of bags used in Quebec every year by 80 million, or four per cent.

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Gagliano Buys Quebec Vineyard With Government Loan: Media Report

From The CBC:

Alfonso Gagliano, a former Liberal cabinet minister in charge of the mismanaged federal sponsorship program at the heart of an extensive public inquiry launched in 2004, has bought a Quebec vineyard with a government loan of more than $500,000, according to a media report.

Montreal's La Presse newspaper reported Saturday that the purchase of the Dunham vineyard in Quebec's Eastern Townships was registered last Friday in the Quebec Land Registry for $733,687. The loan from Farm Credit Canada, a federal Crown corporation, was for $550,000.

Gagliano and his family plan to harvest the grapes in the next few weeks and sell their wine under the name Gagliano Vineyard by next spring, the ex-public works minister told La Presse.

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Ice Cider From Quebec

Quebec's Cider Route Rules -- Windsor Star

Area south of Montreal turns harsh winter climate into sweet taste of late summer.

Using Quebec's harsh climate as a blessing rather than a curse, Quebec apple cider makers took the ice wine idea and spun it into an award-winning variation using frozen apples instead of grapes. Since the first ice cider became available in stores in 1996, they've been snatching international gold medals and selling out in 30 countries.

These days, ice cider is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Quebec's beverage industry, accounting for about 70 per cent of all sales of Quebec products. Ice cider -- or cidre de glace -- is the leader of an apple revolution sweeping Quebec. But there are also many other variations that are taking the traditional fermented apple brew upmarket and into the 21st century with new equipment and new ideas.

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