Scugog says yes to pot shops

Councillors vote unanimously to allow retail cannabis stores

DurhamRegion.com
Jan 24, 2019
Chris Hall

Scugog has said yes to storefront pot shops in the township.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of permitting private recreational cannabis retail stores in Scugog during their Monday evening meeting, one day before the Jan. 22 provincial deadline to either allow or prohibit such outlets.

Their decision, however, does not mean a flood of pot shops will suddenly open up across the township, given the shortage of legal marijuana from federally-licensed producers. Due to supply issues, Ontario has curbed the rollout of its retail store program and announced this month that only 25 stores would open in April --with none swinging open their doors in municipalities with a population of less than 50,000.

As part of its initial phase, the province has stated that a maximum of six retail store authorization licences would be allocated for the "GTA Region," which includes Durham, Halton, Peel and York regions. The province has not said when the next round of store licences will be issued.

A survey carried out by the township saw a clear majority --just over 67 per cent --support cannabis retail stores within Scugog. The bulk of those who participated in the poll, almost 64 per cent, also stated they would favour Scugog expanding regulations over and above the provincial guidelines that prohibit pot shops within 150 metres of schools.

A total of 621 people took part in the survey.
According to a staff report included in the Jan. 21 council agenda, a vast swath of downtown Port Perry would be eligible for pot shops under provincial policies. However, a proposed tweak by Scugog that would see stores prohibited near parks, community and recreation areas and the library would seriously curtail options to just a few pockets in Port Perry.

Kevin Heritage, Scugog’s director of development services, said the township would ask the province to take its tweaks into consideration because “that would be our argument in defending the public interest in the township.”

Heritage also stressed to councillors that allowing retail shops to set up in Scugog and where people can consume cannabis are two separate and distinct issues. He noted Durham Region has prepared a revised smoking bylaw that takes into account vaping and cannabis.

“There are a number of regulations the region is proposing,” said Heritage, explaining that policy will cover issues such as smoking near public entrances and exits and near municipal buildings and parks. “That’s being dealt with by the regional bylaw. The township has the ability to pass its own bylaw that could reinforce that bylaw.”

Ward 3 Coun. Angus Ross, who moved a motion to permit retail pot shops in Scugog, noted that where people can consume marijuana may be of more interest to residents than where pot can be purchased.

“I feel that although we’re dealing with the retail stores of cannabis tonight, when the regional smoke-free bylaw presents itself for us to speak to that will be perhaps of greater importance and will touch base on many of the questions the public is concerned about and members of council as well for the protection and safety of our citizens and youth and those who are choosing not to indulge in cannabis,” he said.

By choosing to opt into the province’s retail program, Scugog will be entitled to cannabis-related funding over the next two years.

The province has earmarked $30 million, with the first $15 million already shared among municipalities; Scugog has received just over $11,000. Municipalities that declined to allow stores will only receive $5,000 more, while those that permit pot shops will share the remaining funds.

The municipalities that allow stores may be able to share an additional $10 million that has been set aside for unforeseen circumstances related to the legalization of pot, said the Scugog staff report, which also warned that the provincial funding is only committed for two years and should not be considered an ongoing revenue source.

The province has stated the “sole purpose” of the funds is for the implementation of costs directly related to the legalization of cannabis, such as increased enforcement, public inquiries, paramedic and fire services, and bylaw and policy development.
As a lower-tier municipality, Scugog will have to split the provincial proceeds with the region.

“Whether we opt in or out, we’re going to have all those things to deal with,” said Ward 4 Coun. Deborah Kiezebrink. "That's something to think about."

While councillors did endorse the idea of allowing pot shops, they did add a couple of caveats: they asked the province to notify the township of all applications for retails stores in Scugog and within 150 metres of the municipal border as well as the opportunity for staff to provide comments on any application “based on the council-approved locational guidelines that support the public interest” in the township.

“We’re allowing people to make a safer choice, a regulated choice, over an alternative where they would have to look for another means to get the cannabis,” said Ross, whose motion was seconded by Kiezebrink.
He added that education is “going to be our greatest tool in ensuring a safe township moving forward.”

In the staff report, it was noted that 28 municipalities in Ontario have chosen to opt out while 68 have voted in favour of pot shops. In Durham, said the report, it appears that Oshawa, Brock, Ajax and Clarington will allow the retail shops, while Pickering and Whitby have said no. In neighbouring Uxbridge, councillors there also voted in favour of allowing pot shops.