Time to allow drinking in parks, mayor says

Torontonians about to legally smoke pot in city parks should maybe also have the option of a beer or glass of wine, says Mayor John Tory. Tory made the comment Thursday when asked if he supports Ontario rules that people will be able to smoke marijuana where they can smoke tobacco.

“It would be a nightmare to try to enforce the difference between somebody smoking a cigarette on a sidewalk and somebody smoking a joint,” Tory said.

“I guess now it does probably prompt us to do something that I’ve talked about … to say if people want to enjoy, which they seem to be doing, a glass of wine or a beer in a park, which I think most people are quite responsible enough to do, we should take look at that kind of thing as part of this continuation of the reform of our laws.”

Open alcohol offences are prosecuted under Ontario’s Liquor Licence Act. Toronto police officers, however, have discretion over whether to issue tickets with steep fines.

Tory noted Pride festival organizers got approval for people to drink alcohol on a stretch of Church St. “without the world coming to an end.” Police need to be concerned about children and safety, he said, but rules around modest consumption of alcohol in parks should be reconsidered “in the context of 2018.”

City council in 2017 asked staff to look at following Philadelphia’s lead with a craft beer truck going to a different park each week and effectively turning part of the park into a beer garden.

Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, parks and environment chair, said the pilot project wasn’t ready for this summer but she looks forward to it launching in the future. McMahon, who is not running for re-election, supports Tory’s call for legal responsible public drinking.