It’s time we hold MLAs accountable
Decisions on legalization affect every Islander and demand public input for provincial government
On the evening of Oct. 11, 2017, Charlottetown MP Sean Casey held a town hall meeting to address the facts and listen to the concerns of Islanders regarding all aspects of the upcoming legalization of cannabis. There were well over 50 members of the community in attendance, along with members of the media, as well as a group of panelists who are very well versed on cannabis, both recreationally and medically. There were dozens of questions asked and many opinions, both positive and negative, shared.
Yet the strongest, and most negative, message to come from the entire evening was the absence of every provincial MLA as well as the Department of Justice when they individually made the conscious decision not to attend or to even send representation, after being personally invited by Mr. Casey’s office.
Mr. Casey did an excellent job of answering those questions, which pertain to the federal government; however, the majority of public concern expressed surrounded issues such as safety, education, access and provincial policy. Questions that required provincial government input, therefore, were left unanswered.
The legalization of cannabis is approaching very quickly, some would argue too quickly, yet the government of P.E.I. apparently has no plan, or intention, on meeting with Islanders and addressing the tough question we all deserve the answers to. At what point do we, as Islanders, say, “We want answers?”
The federal government has decided that cannabis will be legal in July 2018. That is no longer up for debate. What has not yet been solidified, for P.E.I., are matters such as legal age, where cannabis can be consumed, where and how cannabis will be distributed, as well as the framework surrounding growing cannabis for personal consumption.
These are the decisions that will affect every Islander. These decisions deserve, no demand, public input. These decisions all lie with the provincial government, who is making it very clear how little they value the public, or professional, input when it comes to our own health and safety.
Is it too much to ask of those we elected, those we supported, and those we trusted to offer us, the community, the same type of respect? Is it too much to ask for an open discussion with those who will be making some of the most important and culturally influential decisions of our time? Is it too much to ask that our public be included in these decisions?
I would like to think that in a province so close to one another - that it feels like one small community - that the answer should be so simple, but I encourage every Islander to reach out to their local MLA and request a public meeting to discuss how this will impact your community.
Dennis MacKenzie, a nine-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, is the veteran liaison and outreach coordinator for National Access Cannabis and a driving force behind the opening of the only two clinics in P.E.I, who understand and explore cannabis as a medicine.