Vaughan council votes ‘no’ to cannabis retails shops

Only one councillor voted in favour of opting in

YorkRegion.com
Jan 23, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Vaughan Council voted 8-1 to choose not to have any cannabis retail shops in the municipality, following deputants, who overwhelmingly urged them to say “no.”

Alan Shefman was the only councillor who voted “yes” for cannabis retail shops in Vaughan, arguing that neighbouring municipalities such as Aurora and Stouffville have opted in, and people can easily drive and purchase their THC-laced green herb.

Deputations on Jan. 21 asking the council not to have cannabis retail stores in Vaughan come as no surprise.

Gus Michaels, director and chief licensing officer, bylaw and compliance/licensing and permits at the City of Vaughan, was the first to speak before the deputants. He cited a previous poll conducted by the city showing how 54 per cent of Vaughan residents oppose cannabis retail stores.

Michaels said they consider impaired driving and smoking in public places especially in areas where children are located as reasons.

Provincially, no retail stores are allowed within 150-metre vicinity to schools for example.

But for Kathryn Angus, president of the Kleinburg and Area Ratepayers Association, this distance isn’t “adequate.”

“We ask you to opt out from the province’s retail model,” said Angus, who was awarded for her volunteer efforts by the City of Vaughan in 2017 during her deputation.

Another Vaughan resident, Rob Kennedy, who initially suggested cannabis stores should be in industrial areas, also requested council opt out, reflecting the general sentiment to keep the municipality family-friendly.

Following the decision, Vaughan won’t be receiving more than $100,000 in funding from the federal government for law enforcement, a point that has irked the mayor, who lashed out at the “shortage of funding” to enforce the law.

The money is part of the Ontario Cannabis Legalization Implementation Fund (OCLIF), worth $15 million.

In its initial batch in early January, the first payment of $15 million will be made to all municipalities on a per household basis, adjusted so that at least $5,000 is provided to each municipality.

Meanwhile, municipalities that have not opted-out as of Jan. 22 will receive funding on a per household basis, adjusted so at least $5,000 is provided to each municipality.

Municipalities that have opted-out, like Vaughan, will receive only a second $5,000 each. Vaughan also won’t be receiving any surplus money made from recreational cannabis sales.

Ontario's ministry of finance said if the province’s portion of the federal excise duty on recreational cannabis over the first two years of legalization exceeds $100 million, then it will give 50 per cent of the surplus only to municipalities that have opted in.
Some deputants dismissed these financial incentives, saying council should vote out of principle.