About Ontario Craft Brewers
The Ontario Craft Brewers is the voice of craft beer in Ontario, advocating to all three levels of government on issues important to our industry including red tape reduction, lowering beer taxes, and expanding retail opportunities. We are also a community of boundary-pushing producers sharing technical advice and best practices, building connections and collaborations within the industry, and bettering our sector, our communities and our province through a variety of initiatives.
Ontario’s craft breweries are a significant economic and cultural driver across the province, especially in rural and northern communities.
Between 2010 and 2019, craft beer was the fastest growing segment of Ontario’s manufacturing sector, growing from 40 breweries to over 300.
Today, these small businesses and job creators employ 4,600 people full-time and contribute more than $685 million annually to Ontario’s GDP.
Despite representing just 11% of beer volume sold in the province, craft brewers are responsible for 80% of brewing jobs and are often the largest employers in their region.
Located in every region of the province - 90% of Ontarians have a craft brewery in their community.
According to data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), for every dollar spent at a small business like a craft brewery, 66 cents stays in the local community compared to only 11 cents of every dollar when consumers buy large multinational brands.
Craft breweries have invested more than $500 million in capital investments over the last decade.
A recent study by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA) found that Ontario’s craft beer industry could grow by a minimum of 40% over the next decade.
That growth would create 1,000 new jobs, $380 million in additional capital investment, and $2.35 billion in economic activity if the right tax changes are implemented.
