As this country braces for another round of American tariffs and the major party leaders engage in an arms race to see who can promise lower taxes, Canada will quietly raise alcohol taxes, harming our own industry and increasing the cost of living for Canadians.

On April 1 — a day before U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to impose reciprocal tariffs on America’s trading partners and mulling including many of the Canadian products that were exempted from the last round of tariffs — Canada’s excise tax on beer, wine and spirits will automatically increase by two per cent, which is estimated to cost consumers over $40 million a year.