With an online survey showing more than 90-per-cent support, and an Oraclepoll showing 66 per cent in favour, city council voted Tuesday to opt in to the retail cannabis stores next year.
Councillors were told that unlike normal projects, that go through the city's planning process, approval for cannabis stores goes through Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commisssion.
Residents who are concerned about a store opening near them would send their concerns to the commission, not the city. It's also the province that regulates where the stores can go, imposing restrictions such as banning them from opening near schools.
“We have no planning mechanisms to limit sites of retail stores, (that’s) covered by the province,” said Kevin Fowke, the city's GM of corporate services.
The Orcalepoll poll was conducted between Dec.1-6, with 1,008 people from all 12 wards being surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 per cent.
It found 38 per cent were strongly in favour of cannabis stores, 28 were in favour, eight per cent were opposed, 20 per cent strongly opposed and six per cent were unsure.
The province required an answer from municipalities on the stores by January 2019, with the stores being allowed to open beginning in April.
