A Summerland, B.C. winery is warning that a provincial policy allowing imported grapes is squeezing local growers, despite being introduced to help the wine industry recover from last year’s devastating freeze.

The government’s temporary exemption — first introduced after the 2024 cold snap destroyed much of the Okanagan’s crop — lets wineries import grapes from outside Canada. The measure was meant as a short-term lifeline but was extended earlier this year, prompting frustration among small producers.

Local growers say imports displacing B.C. fruit

“Fruit from Washington has displaced fruit grown here in B.C.,” said Jesse Gill, owner of Back Door Winery in Summerland. “The cost of imported grapes is a fraction of what they’d pay locally.”

Gill says he’s currently storing about 160 tonnes of unsold grapes from six Okanagan wineries that could go to waste. “We’re still getting inquiries, we’re turning people away at this point,” he said.

In response, Gill launched a ‘Save the Grape’ campaign, producing a special vintage using leftover Okanagan fruit.

Industry group defends policy as supply-driven

However, Jeff Guignard, CEO of Wine Growers BC, says the imports are filling unavoidable supply gaps, not displacing local crops.

“If you look at what’s being brought in, we’re really only importing varieties that aren’t available in B.C.,” Guignard said. “Someone’s importing Syrah or Sauvignon Blanc because there’s none available locally.”

Guignard added that the industry has already purchased a record volume of local grapes this year and is helping find buyers for remaining stock.

Province urges wineries to prioritize local grapes

In a statement, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham reaffirmed that participating wineries must continue prioritizing B.C.-grown fruit.

“We’ve been clear that wineries are expected to prioritize local grapes over sourcing out-of-province grapes for replacement wines,” she said.

Still, producers like Gill argue that the policy’s extension tilts the market in favour of cheaper imports, threatening to erode the identity of B.C.’s wine industry — built on the character of Okanagan-grown fruit.

As he bottles his “Save the Grape” blend, Gill hopes it will serve as both a statement and a call to action: to keep B.C. wine truly local.

Canada has announced the first slate of 25 projects under the G7 critical minerals partnership, marking a coordinated move to challenge China’s near-total dominance over global mineral supply chains.

The initiatives include offtake agreements for a graphite mine in Quebec and new investments in rare earth refining in Ontario — key steps toward securing Western control over materials vital to electric vehicles, batteries, and clean-tech manufacturing.

“These first initiatives are a clear signal that the G7 is serious about reducing concentration risks, safeguarding national security, and driving investment,” said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson during the announcement on Friday.

“Every delay is a concession of economic and national security interests. We will no longer accept that,” Hodgson said.

Countering China’s grip on key minerals

According to the International Energy Agency, China controls roughly 70% of global refining for 19 of 20 key critical minerals — and 91% for rare earth elements used in EV motors, advanced radar systems, and clean energy technologies.

Although Beijing agreed to temporarily pause export controls on some rare earths as part of a deal with Washington this week, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the moratorium underscores the need for self-reliance within the G7.

“China used non-market practices to squish the rest of the industry,” Wright said at the Toronto meetings. “Everybody sees that now.”

Key Canadian projects announced

Among the headline initiatives:

• Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine near Montreal received federal and private-sector offtake agreements from Panasonic and Traxys, securing future graphite supply for EV batteries.

• Vianode, a Norwegian company, will build a synthetic graphite plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, supported by up to $500 million in potential financing from Export Development Canada. The company already holds a multibillion-dollar supply contract with General Motors.

• Ucore Rare Metals, based in Kingston, Ontario, was conditionally approved for $36 million in federal funding to expand its refinery processing samarium and gadolinium, both used in nuclear and MRI technologies.

Graphite and rare earths are crucial to lithium-ion batteries and clean-energy infrastructure, sectors where demand is projected to surge sharply through 2040.

A report by the Canadian Climate Institute estimated the country will need $30 billion in new capital investments by that time just to meet domestic mineral demand.

Canada at the centre of G7 minerals strategy

University of Ottawa professor Wolfgang Alschner said the G7 meetings positioned Canada “at the centre of the minerals discussion,” but cautioned that the effort remains project-focused rather than policy-driven.

“Much policy work remains to be done,” Alschner said, citing the need for unified market standards and transparent governance frameworks.

The new alliance, he added, nonetheless signals a “defining shift” — with Canada emerging as a bridge between North American industry and global partners seeking to secure the raw materials for the world’s energy transition.