Cannabis
Whether the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury should opt in to allow retail cannabis stores is the main item council will tackle at a meeting tonight.
Andrea Paine, national director of government relations for Aurora Cannabis, which owns licensed marijuana producer MedReleaf in BWG, is expected to make a deputation to council early in the meeting, shortly before an open forum where members of the public can share their opinions on pot shops.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Zima Room of the BWG Public Library.
BWG council previously deferred a decision on whether to allow retail cannabis stores until it got more public feedback, including from a survey on the Town of BWG website.
According to a town report on the survey, about 54 per cent of residents “strongly support” allowing recreational cannabis retail stores as soon as this April, compared to about 31 per cent of people who “strongly oppose” it.
As well, 11 per cent of people surveyed said they “somewhat support” opting in, about three per cent “somewhat oppose” it, and about one per cent were undecided.
The report noted 631 people answered that question on the survey.
Also in the report, people who took the survey nearly tied on the question of whether the town should further restrict where tobacco and cannabis are consumed, such as proximity to medical facilities, patios, schools, and playgrounds.
About 45 per cent of respondents said the town should make additional restrictions, while about 44 per cent said no. About 11 per cent of people were unsure.
Lake Simcoe protection
Council will receive a letter at Tuesday’s meeting from the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition and Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition, which have concerns about the provincial government’s Bill 66.
Bill 66 would allow open-for-business planning bylaws to override planning, drinking water, agricultural and other environmental protections contained in the Clean Water Act.
“We appreciate the need for economic opportunities, but we strongly believe that economic opportunities do not have to come at the expense of our drinking water, lakes or green spaces,” the letter read. “We are calling on all municipal councils in the Lake Simcoe watershed, and in Simcoe County, to reassure those citizens that their water and green spaces won’t be sacrificed.”
Council will consider passing a recommendation that the town will “continue to make sound decisions regarding growth management and resource preservation that are consistent with the Clean Water Act” and other legislation.
