Greater Sudbury will likely receive about $270,000 a year from a provincial fund to help with the challenges that occur after marijuana is legalized next month.
A report headed to city council Sept. 25 says the federal and provincial governments have agreed to split pot revenues, with 25 per cent headed to the federal government.
In turn, the province has said municipalities will get $40 million over two years to help with issues that arise after the Oct. 17 legalization date.
“The funding will be allocated on a per household basis,” the staff report says. “Using 2016 Census data, Greater Sudbury’s share of the funding would be approximately $270,000 a year for the first two years of implementation. To date, there have been no details regarding the timing of the funding model.”
The money will help cities sort how how they will deal with new challenges resulting from legalization, including:
- Business licencing and permitting
- How to deal with the Smoke Free Ontario Act, for LTCs and social housing, considering facility practices, employee safety and tenancy agreements Consideration whether the city wants to consider allowing cannabis lounges
- Who does what regarding areas of enforcement
- Anticipate impact on municipal court services and prosecutions
- Events and festivals
- Building and fire code compliance
- Impacts on public health and health care sectors
- H/R policies
- Impacts on social services sector
- Bylaws and policy requirements
City staff have met with Public Health Sudbury District and the Greater Sudbury Police Services to talk about the impact of legalization of marijuana.
“Further discussions regarding details of policy/business practices are continuing,” the report says. “Two working groups … have been established to work on policy/direction within CGS.”
The working groups include an enforcement working group, including representation from building controls, citizen services, leisure services, community safety, and police. A second includes representation from human resources, pioneer manor, housing services, communications and social services.
When pot is legalized in Ontario, users will only be able to buy online, with retail stores to be announced next April. Cities have a one-time option to opt out of having a retail store in their community, the report said.
“It is anticipated that provincial representatives will contact municipalities regarding the consultation process and the decision point around opting-in or opting out of the local retail portion of the model,” the report said. “The province has indicated that consultation will not take place until after the municipal elections on October 22.”
