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Letter: MP invites feedback on pot taxes

Public consultation process ends Dec. 7
cannabis marijuana 2016
Cannibis. (Supplied)

As you are aware, our government has developed an approach to legalizing, taxing, regulating and restricting access to cannabis that aims to keep it out of the hands of kids and keep profits out of the hands of criminals. 

That is why, after extensive consultation with the provinces and territories, law enforcement, health and safety experts, our government introduced legislation to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis by no later than July 2018. 

Now, we are taking the next step toward the legalization of cannabis with the development of a tax framework designed to keep prices low enough to put criminals out of business, while offsetting the costs of education, administration and enforcement. 

The proposed tax framework is part of our ongoing work with the provinces and territories and other partners to legalize, regulate and restrict the sale of cannabis. We will continue to work with provinces and territories to ensure a co-ordinated approach. 

In support of these goals and the broader legalization efforts, on Nov. 10, the Department of Finance Canada published a proposed excise duty framework for cannabis products for the purposes of informing and generating a broad public consultation on the taxation of cannabis products.
 
The framework, as well as a number of related resources, can be viewed at the following link (https://www.fin.gc.ca/n17/17-114-eng.asp), and I encourage all interested individuals or organizations to review the consultation document and submit written comments to [email protected] before the consultation concludes on Dec. 7.
 
Protecting the health and safety of Canadians is a top priority for our government. Legalizing and regulating cannabis will allow us to better protect youth, take business away from criminals, and put public health front and centre when it comes to educating Canadians on the potential harms of cannabis use. 

Our government welcomes feedback on the taxation of cannabis products, and I look forward to discussing this matter with my constituents.

Marc Serré 
Member of Parliament, Nickel Belt