Hot potato, pot potato at city council
On the issue of setting local cannabis-use rules, city council appears to be playing its get-out-of-jail-free card.
This week city council halted a proposed set of rules to restrict public cannabis use, and began the process of developing new, more stringent ones just 16 days before marijuana is legalized.
Council members say they are responding to community concerns that have become increasingly loud.
They also want the Alberta government, which in April announced minimum rules that cities could increase, to step in and mandate stiffer, blanket restrictions across the province.
It’s hard not to believe, however, that all this includes some notion of kicking this can a little further down the street. Some sympathy here: Pot legalization is a complex, vexing problem. It’s something most provincial and local governments would probably rather not have to deal with. They didn’t ask for it, and nobody knows what Oct. 18 looks like.
And it’s difficult to figure out public sentiment.
A city survey on cannabis use last winter garnered the highest amount of feedback ever in local public engagements.
Yet, not a single person raised an official concern at hearings when the rules were laid down for where cannabis retailers could locate.
The official record is similarly blank after the basics of a proposed public-use bylaw was discussed in August. It was widely reported then, but only now being panned in direct calls and emails to council members by increasingly concerned citizens.
That bylaw would have treated smoking cannabis similar to cigarettes, but increased distances from doorways and added some strictly prohibited areas.
The new verve is to deal with it more like alcohol, which generally can’t be drank in public.
But, in the absence of a local bylaw, the provincial standards, based on tobacco legislation, will be the default.
To review, Hatters wanted stronger regulations than were being proposed, yet, because the bylaw was killed, will have weaker ones until some unspecified future date.
Similarly, the previous consensus was that stronger rules are better at first because it’s easier to relax standards than increase them. The new road map here is to have minimal rules on Oct. 17, then very stringent rules later.
Councillors also say the city needs stronger regulations than the provincial ones, but those standards are strong enough to protect the public.
Some local legislators go as far as to say the province has provided no rules or guidance, yet reassure citizens the provincial rules that don’t exist, in fact, do exist and are sufficient. What exactly is to be made of all this? One translation would suggest local councillors want the province to lay down stronger provincial rules because they don’t want to deal with this. Who would blame them? They didn’t legalize pot, or ask for citizens to take out their frustrations with Ottawa on them.
And why would they want to take ownership of an issue that will make a lot of people unhappy no matter what?
But is the answer here to have the province sweep in and take the issue off their plate?
If so, it’s a strange request in an age when greater local decision-making power for local government is a standard request.
As well, we don’t hear similar problems from other centres in Alberta which have all had the same option to boost local laws based on community standards.
Certainly they’ve grappled with the issue, and Alberta cities are united in lobbying the province to enact liquortype rules for pot.
But Medicine Hat alone seems to be unable to legislate the issue in the meantime.
Local-level politicians have long had a valid gripe that higher levels of government download responsibility to municipalities and very little of the revenue.
It shouldn’t be habit, however to blame the provincial government whenever Medicine Hat city council can’t find a local solution to a local problem.
(Collin Gallant is a News reporter. To comment on this and other editorials, go to www.medicinehatnews.com/opinions.)
Tickled Pink
That someone finally did a broadcast regarding residential schools, telling it like it is. We need more people to join with the MP and this broadcast to bring out the actual truth.
Ticked Off
If the city decides to ban marijuana usage in outdoor public places, they should consider all forms of smoking. If one is permitted the other should be as well.
Ticked Off
With people comparing us to Lethbridge residents and surrounding areas. Concerning the safe injection sites. They have totally different demographics than Medicine Hat has.
Ticked Off
Enough of your pictures of the Pride crosswalk. Give it a rest.
Tickled Pink
When construction on the lift station below Parkview Drive will finally be completed. Haven’t been able to use the trail connecting Riverside to Police Point Park for two years!
Ticked Off
Remember the line fed to us by elected city officials — build it and they will come? Where are all the events that were promised at the Canalta Centre?
Tickled Pink
By the dedication and hard work of folks involved in the repaving of roads, building of new curbs and sidewalks, and who continue to work on the water/sewage infrastructure in southeast Medicine Hat.
Tickled Pink
Our local police force has been reduced to 113 members
from a peak of 116 in 2010 but can still adequately police the city. Holy cow, with three fewer members that has to be an extraordinary feat!
Tickled Pink
I just read Les Pearson’s letter to the editor regarding Thrive and minimum wage; well done! A living wage helps everyone, as they can possibly not work two jobs, therefore more jobs available for the unemployed.
Ticked Off
How is it possibly free enterprise when our city council, the provincial NDP, and the federal Liberals all decide which industries, companies, farms, etc., should get reduced taxes, subsidies, and other special concessions?
Tickled Pink
I wish guest columnist Peter Mueller would just quit. I can’t stand to read his garbage.
Ticked Off
Legalization is happening, now all the pot-haters and paranoids are trying to set laws to make it illegal again! Pot is less of a hazard than booze and tobacco.
Tickled Pink
I am happy at those that are standing up regarding a living wage. Business owners, can you live on that wage and only that wage? What would you have to give up? Would you have to work two jobs or three? If so how would it impact your family if you did? Try it for six months then you can talk.
Ticked Off
Our world is in such a mess and now our Canadian government is creating another problem with pot legalization. I trust that they will take responsibility in the future for what they have done.
Ticked Off
To read about all the community issues and actions against the LGBTQ crosswalk and a safeconsumption site. The individuals who are doing this really make all Hatters seem petty minded.
Ticked Off
I hope the police catch and severely prosecute the individuals responsible for tossing paint all over the crosswalk at the college. Their actions were quite childish and shouldn’t be tolerated.
Ticked Off
At the parents who treat their sick children with prayer and other fairy tales, rather than modern medicine.