East Gwillimbury is not open for pot business ...for now

East Gwillimbury council voted to prohibit cannabis retail stores, but will revisit the issue in 2020

Yorkregion.com
Jan 11, 2019
Amanda Persico

Either you are in. Or you are out.

Yes or no.

And East Gwililmbury is out, for now.

Town council voted to prohibit any retail cannabis stores within its borders. And with that decision, the town could also be closing the door to future funding as well.

Mayor Hackson not in favour of legalized marijuana shop in East Gwillimbury
“It’s here now, we need to find a way to deal with it,” said Ward 2 councillor Tara Roy-DiClemente, the lone councillor to vote against prohibiting cannabis retail stores.

“I don’t think it (is) a responsible move to outright prohibit it.”

The initial intent, proposed by Roy-DiClemente back in December, was to not be a pot shop guinea pig by having one of the first 25 stores in town.

There were no statements or arguments from residents at either pot discussion.

Without knowing the issues resulting from stores one through 25, it’s stores no. 26, 27 and 28 that pose an issue.

“We should not be part of the first wave,” said Ward 1 Councillor Loralea Carruthers, who supported to prohibition. “If all goes well, we may want to be part of the second wave. It all doesn’t go well, we may not want to. Not that we’re closing the door entirely.”

And, so far, there’s no time frame for the second wave of cannabis store locations. 

But based on the province’s 50,000 population threshold to host a cannabis store, there’s no guarantee the town would be part of the second wave anyway.

The town is projected to reach about 48,000 residents by 2021 and about 86,000 by 2031.

“The province listened to us and is not making us a guinea pig for the first 25 stores,” Roy-DiClemente said. 

The provincial threshold of 50,000 residents was basically handed to small towns like East Gwillimbury, she added.

But a blanket prohibition would close the door on future funding and possible future revenue streams, Roy-DiClemente added.

Municipalities across the province were awarded a minimum of $10,000 whether or not retail cannabis stores were prohibited.

East Gwillimbury was allotted more than $12,200 in the first installment and another $5,000 coming after the Jan. 22 opt-out deadline.

The funds are tied to costs associated with the legalization of cannabis, including enforcement, public outreach and education and up-to-date training for bylaw officers.

The next wave of funding would only be available to municipalities who allow cannabis shops.

Without additional funding from the province, those costs would be on the taxpayers’ dime.

“I don’t want to close the door to any additional funds,” said Roy-DiClemente. “We don’t have the tools at the moment. Let’s get some money to do that.”

The amount of money proposed by the province would be “used up in a heartbeat,” said Mayor Virginia Hackson.

“This isn’t a decision about money. It’s much greater than that,” she said. “If things go sideways, this amount of money would not do a heck of a lot.”

Not to mention the amount of future funds available for municipalities that opt-in is unknown.

“I’d hate to say goodbye to future funding,” said Ward 3 councillor Scott Crone. “But we’re not waving off on a pile of money either.”

There is a saving grace – municipalities that prohibit cannabis retail stores prior to the Jan. 22 deadline, can opt back in again.

Council also voted to re-examine the issue in a year to see if it should lift the prohibition.