Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Mayors Press Trudeau Liberals For Help To Handle Legalized Marijuana

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Jun, 2017 01:16 AM
  • Mayors Press Trudeau Liberals For Help To Handle Legalized Marijuana

OTTAWA — The mayors of Canada's biggest cities say they need a slice of the tax windfall from legal marijuana to cover what they describe as significant costs associated with enforcing a signature initiative from the federal Liberals.

 

They raised their concerns with cabinet ministers this week, pressing the case that some tax revenues from sale of the drug must filter down to cover costs associated with land-use issues, business licensing applications and enforcement once the purchase, sale and recreational use of the drug is no longer illegal.

 

The parliamentary budget officer estimated in a report last year that sales tax revenue to federal and provincial governments combined could be as low as $356 million and as high as $959 million in the first year of legalization, depending on the price put on cannabis and usage.

 

"We're not in a position to collect any (taxes)," Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, chairman of the mayors' group, said in an interview this week.

 

"One conversation that we think is important to have is support for local governments dealing with the costs of enforcement."

 

It would be up to local police to enforce impaired driving laws, provisions about sales to minors and any necessary bylaws for dispensaries that open up in communities. Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said cities are asking the federal government for more details as early as the fall about how the law will impact them.

 

"We also need some clarity around the law, so that we can be prepared to deal with dispensaries, many of whom think that they, as soon as this (bill) passes, can just open anywhere they want," Savage said.

 

Several mayors say they feel the Trudeau Liberals are moving at breakneck speed, leaving them little time to prepare for the new regime. The Liberals hope to make marijuana legal by the summer of 2018.

 
"
 
 
The one thing that, of course, concerns me is the timing of how quickly this is occurring, especially given that I certainly have concerns about likely increased costs to policing," said Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman.

 

"Depending on how it's rolled out, depending on where the revenues are being collected and by whom could play a role in helping us address our concerns and what we expect are going to be increasing costs to policing."

 

The government's legalization bill, C-45, was being debated at second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, blocks away from where thousands of delegates were gathered for the annual meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

 

Trudeau addressed the gathering in the morning after the official start of the annual meeting, focusing on what local leaders describe as an opioid epidemic in their communities.

 

Health officials and political leaders have been sounding the alarm about a dramatic spike in opioid deaths across Canada — the focus of a national summit in Ottawa last fall that pulled together experts from across the country.

 

In his speech, Trudeau said governments won't rest until they turn the tide of the crisis, pointing to the government's latest budget as evidence of the government's interest in addressing the problem: The budget included $110 million over five years for a national drug strategy.

 

 

"The opioid epidemic has touched the lives of countless Canadians, in one way or another," Trudeau said.

 

"We must come together to address this crisis and that's why we're working with our provincial, territorial and municipal partners to find lasting solutions."

 

Later in the day, the government announced it has approved three new supervised drug consumption sites for Toronto. In a statement, Health Minister Jane Philpott said evidence shows such sites save lives and decrease hospital admissions related to injection drug use.

MORE National ARTICLES

Toronto 18 Ringleader Ordered Detained Until End Of Sentence

A ringleader of the so-called Toronto 18 terror cell continues to minimize his role in the deadly plot and can't guarantee he has the support to manage his return to society, officials said in upholding an order for his detention.

Toronto 18 Ringleader Ordered Detained Until End Of Sentence

IMF Warns About Housing And Household Debt, Urges More Action By Government

IMF Warns About Housing And Household Debt, Urges More Action By Government
OTTAWA — The International Monetary Fund is warning about the risks to the Canadian economy due to a possible correction in the housing market and urged governments to do more to protect against them.

IMF Warns About Housing And Household Debt, Urges More Action By Government

Justin Trudeau To Be First Guest On Live With Kelly And Ryan Niagara Falls Shows

Justin Trudeau To Be First Guest On Live With Kelly And Ryan Niagara Falls Shows
The Episodes Will Air Monday, June 5 And Tuesday, June 6.

Justin Trudeau To Be First Guest On Live With Kelly And Ryan Niagara Falls Shows

Judge Jails Cape Breton's Klutzy the Clown For Sexually Assaulting 15-Yr-Old Girl

Judge Jails Cape Breton's Klutzy the Clown For Sexually Assaulting 15-Yr-Old Girl
Dale Rancourt, a native of Ontario who long performed as Klutzy the Clown, admitted having a two-month sexual relationship with the girl.

Judge Jails Cape Breton's Klutzy the Clown For Sexually Assaulting 15-Yr-Old Girl

Winery Owners' Arrest A Warning For Canadians Doing Business In China: Daughter

Winery Owners' Arrest A Warning For Canadians Doing Business In China: Daughter
OTTAWA — The daughter of two Canadian winery owners being held by Chinese authorities over an alleged customs valuation dispute says the case should serve as a warning for other Canadians hoping to do business in China.

Winery Owners' Arrest A Warning For Canadians Doing Business In China: Daughter

Loto-Quebec Taking Bets On Whether Donald Trump Will Still Be In Office In 2018

Loto-Quebec Taking Bets On Whether Donald Trump Will Still Be In Office In 2018
On Wednesday, Loto-Quebec invited players on its Mise-o-jeu platform to wager on the following question: "Will Donald Trump still be president of the United States after May 1, 2018?"

Loto-Quebec Taking Bets On Whether Donald Trump Will Still Be In Office In 2018