FROM THE EDITOR

May is a month of hope and optimism. The days are longer, baseball is back, gender-lensed opportunity flows from the federal budget and we begin to see a lot of green. For many in our country that green will mean the budding of a new legalized recreational marijuana industry and for others the righting of the ship for women in business.

While Bill C-45 makes its way through Parliament and women across the country hold out renewed hope to get a fair shake in business, there is certainly a lot of anticipation and cautious optimism about what this will mean for many people.

In this issue of The Review we look at both issues: cannabis and women in business.

Before the Bell examined what outstanding issues remain that should be considered before the recreational use of cannabis is legalized. Our Dale Smith recounts the issues in his piece “The Final Countdown.”

Rita Notarandrea, CEO of the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction, adds a cautionary note about young people on cannabis. As she writes, “it is increasingly important we talk to youth ”

Next Michael Bourque, president and CEO of the Canadian Real Estate Association, reminds us to exercise caution around health concerns for growing your own cannabis.

And no discussion on decimalization would be complete without the voice of Canada’s police forces. Maro Harel, president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police sounds his whistle reminding us there are key jurisdictional details that have yet to be resolved.

The federal budget was a good news budget of sorts for inspiring and growing women entrepreneurs. Dale Smith recaps the Before the Bell show on what those opportunities are in “Pushing Forward for Women in Business.”

Janice McDonald, founder of the Beacon Agency, and Clare Beckton, executive in residence with the Centre for Research and Education on Women in Work, add that there needs to be a broader definition of the term innovation for women entrepreneurs.

Finally, special to the Sixth Estate, Barbara Balfour examines if the #MeToo movement may actually be negatively impacting women in business and the need for continued positive and constructive relationships between men and women at work.

Hope springs eternal. Enjoy!.