Hub Staff

Saugeen Shores Council voted unanimously in support of a Retail Cannabis Policy, joining the municipalities of Kincardine and Brockton to eventually host brick and mortar cannabis retailers.

The approval came during the January 14 council meeting, just in time for the January 22 opt-out deadline, with Saugeen Shores following the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) guidelines to monitor restrictions on properties.

Town of Saugeen Shores Development Coordinator Jay Pausner provided results from a town run survey that saw 1,611 respondents with a result of 81 percent approval for storefront cannabis retailers in Saugeen Shores with 19 percent opposed. Of those who approved, 21 percent said they approved but with conditions.

The survey closed December 31 and was open to anyone 19 years of age or older with those aged 26 to 35 showing the highest participation at 25 percent. The 56 to 64 age group was the second highest at 20 percent and the 19 to 25 age group saw the lowest participation at 9 percent.

Pausner highlighted survey results as a “very, very good turnout”, comparing it to the 2017 Corporate Strategic Plan Survey that had 829 respondents and at the time was considered a good response.

During his report to council Pausner said that if approved an amendment to the sign by-law will enforce that cannabis retailers not be permitted to have illuminated signs or sandwich boards to promote sales. The report also noted the potential loss of provincial revenue shares if council had decided instead to opt out of retail cannabis and also highlighted the tourism potential, liking it to wineries and craft breweries.

Retail storefronts are not expected in Saugeen Shores for some time as the provincial proposal currently is said to authorize 25 stores Ontario, which will be selected by way of a lottery, and only in communities of at least 50,000 residents.

Councillor Dave Myette said that Saugeen Shores likes to consider itself "a full service tourism community" and that the survey results were excellent, “which makes it clear to me that this is the way we're going," Myette added.

"We need to allow the industry to grow and the survey created quite a bit of buzz in the community,” he joked.

Vice-Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt liked that the Town would have control through regulated sales of cannabis and said residents who completed the survey got it right.

Councillor Cheryl Grace appreciated the potential opportunity to educate people on the product with Mayor Luke Charbonneau hoping that all Bruce County communities share the same rules so there is an “optimum chance of enforcing them."

The meeting's green theme was kicked off by a delegation from Al Robertson, head of security at 7Acres, who highlighted the cannabis producer's $80 million facilities that currently consists of 19 licensed flowering rooms and 350 employees. The Tiverton operation is expected to grow to 500 plus employees in June and 30 flowering rooms.

Robertson shared with councillors why supporting a cannabis policy would benefit the community and said that the harmonized use across Bruce and Grey counties would be a good idea. Robertson said that 7Acres would do their part to support local retailers. “In our opinion the positive economical impacts, the potential to curb the black market and educational benefits to the community are positive opportunities," he said.

Vice-Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt asked about a cannabis shortage in Canada since legalization happened in November, to which Robertson expressed the need for more product. “They’re running out of our product in the stores... they just can't keep it on the shelves," he said.

Al Robertson head of Secretly for Tiverton’s 7Acres highlighted next steps for a growing facility January 14 in council chambers.

The recent survey on the potential of a cannabis retailer in Saugeen Shores saw over 1,600 people respond from 19 years of age and older.

From the survey, 81 percent of participants supported the idea of storefront cannabis sales in Saugeen Shores.