Mississauga Requests a Share of Cannabis Revenue: Mayor Crombie
For Immediate Release
December 11th, 2017
Mississauga Requests a Share of Cannabis Revenue: Mayor Crombie
The provincial government has directed that the City of Mississauga will be home to one new Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC) retail store which will open in July 2018. The following is a statement by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie on the issue of oversight and management of cannabis distribution and sales:
“Mississauga Council and staff are requesting that the provincial and federal governments work together to provide greater clarity on the amount of revenue that will be given to municipalities from the federal excise tax on cannabis. Cities, like Mississauga, will face cost pressures associated with the legalization of cannabis, including zoning, by-law enforcement, licencing, public health, and policing, to name a few.
“To date there has not yet been a formal commitment to the amount of revenue that will be shared with municipalities. This is concerning as municipalities across Canada work to prepare for the rapidly approaching July 2018 legalization date.
“Minister Morneau and Minister Sousa are meeting to discuss the issue of cannabis legalization. During these discussions, I urge the provincial and federal governments to come to an agreement that will ensure a greater share of revenue for the provinces to pass along a fair share to municipalities. I agree with the FCM position of a 1/3-1/3-1/3, federal, provincial, municipal revenue sharing model that will give municipalities our fair share.
“Council and staff are committed to ensuring the responsible regulation, distribution and oversite of cannabis. We must also do everything we can to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public and especially children and young people. We will work with Peel Regional Police and front-line officers to combat any anticipated problems that will result from the sale of cannabis.”
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President at Global Health Strategy Inc.
7yA letter to the Editor in Canada’s premier newspaper Toronto Star way back in 2013 (copy follows) spoke to the need for legalizing pot, which finally has come to pass. Now that the City of Mississauga will become home to a legal OCRC retail cannabis store in July 2018, the equitable decision must be to endorse a 1/3-1/3-1/3, federal, provincial, and municipal revenue sharing model - that will give to municipalities their fair share of revenues. Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s request in the press release needs to be heeded by finance ministers Morneau and Sousa. Pot: to legalize or not Published on Sat Aug 10 2013 Re: Legalizing pot, endorsing stupidity, Aug. 7 In her own inimitable, candid and confrontational style, Rosie DiManno has waded into the deep end of the marijuana pool. Her observation that: “If nicotine is so destructive of health, surely marijuana is no better,” would suggest a surprising lack of appreciation for the facts. While both these are major addiction-causing substances their effects on human health are very different. Cigarette smoking is well accepted as a leading risk factor for a host of highly prevalent diseases leading to very high levels of morbidity and mortality, which is not true with marijuana. Experience in other countries supports Trudeau’s logic for legalizing pot possession, regulating it and taxing it. It is good to see that politicians’ views can evolve over time, based on facts as well as the changing public opinion among Canadians. Let us hope that many other Star readers will weigh in on this important topic, in an open and unbiased manner. Rudy Fernandes, Mississauga