KENILWORTH – On Jan. 14, Wellington North councillors voted 4-1 in favour of allowing retail cannabis sales in the township.
Prior to the vote, councillors heard from Centre Wellington resident Silvana Sangiuliano, who stated no consideration has been given to those aged 11 to 18, whom she says will continue to be targetted by the black market.
“No amount of money can justify the negative ramifications,” said Sangiuliano, who planned to visit every municipality in the county to register her objection to local pot stores.
She said the amount of funds to be allocated to municipalities opting in is “insignificant” and there is nothing to stop the province from reducing allocations at a later date.
Sangiuliano presented council a petition signed by over 500 residents and businesses in Wellington County and suggested permanently opting out would be the best decision for Wellington North.
Council was then presented with two motions, the first of which stated the township would allow retail cannabis stores.
Clerk Karren Wallace noted over 59,093 individuals/corporations have applied to run stores, but only 25 would be chosen in Ontario via lottery.
As of noon on Jan. 14, Wallace said of Ontario’s 414 municipalities only 169 had made a decision on the issue. Of those, 122 voted in favour of cannabis stores, while only 47 voted to opt out.
“The crunch time is coming,” Wallace said, noting the Jan. 22 deadline.
Mayor Andy Lennox said if the first motion approving pot sales is defeated, it stands to reason the other motion would pass. He explained one of the motions had to come to the table to start the discussion.
Wallace said council could choose to make no decision, but the result would be the same as opting in.
“Which is a decision in itself, but without a resolution” Lennox added.
Council also received survey results from the Mount Forest Chamber of Commerce, which indicated the majority of local businesses are in favour of local cannabis sales.
Councillor Lisa Hern added the Arthur chamber did not send out a poll, but rather questions were asked of individual members.
Lennox noted a township survey indicated most residents (over 60%) supported pot shops, but cautioned, “Surveys inherently have a measure of error attached and there are ways the results can be skewed on informal surveys. “I believe the surveys are invaluable to provide an indication of what people are thinking; they are not the same as a referendum.”
Some survey respondents indicated they want the township to maintain strict controls on cannabis store locations, security and education.
Others wondered if the move would cause Mount Forest’s longstanding motto – “High, Healthy and Happy” – to suffer.
Some voiced concern that people would drive to where cannabis was sold and then spend their retail dollars in that community.
One respondent noted, “cannabis is here to stay – opting out is like putting your head in the sand.”
Lennox said for him the highest priority is protecting youths as much as possible and trying to minimize the impact of the black market in the local community.
Yake asked for a recorded vote on the motion to allow cannabis sales.
Council voted 4-1 in favour of opting in, with Lennox and councillors Hern, Steve McCabe and Sherri Burke in favour and councillor Dan Yake opposed.
“I didn’t know how the vote was going to go,” Lennox said. “I thought it could have gone either way, there is so little information to really make a decision. We’re doing the best we can with what we have available.
“I could understand why any member of council would vote either way.”
