Councillors express cannabis concerns

CAMBRIDGE — Cambridge city councillors were among a number of people to raise concerns at a town hall on the legalization of cannabis held by local members of Parliament Wednesday.

Cambridge councillors Jan Liggett, Donna Reid and Mike Mann each asked MPs how the federal government will help cities afford the cost of legalization.

“The costs are going to be born by the provinces and the municipalities and most of it will be by the municipalities,” said Liggett.

She said costs will come from increased responsibilities for fire departments, police services and bylaw enforcement.

“We’re going to have to have new bylaw enforcement officers because bylaws are going to have to change — the zoning of where you’re going to be allowed to grow, where you’re going to be allowed to sell,” said Liggett.

Bryan May, MP for Cambridge, said some of the resources will be made available as a result of the legalization of cannabis.

“We know that there is an immense amount of resources being used right now to deal with this as an illegal substance,” said May.

He said some of the resources spent by law enforcement currently will be freed up with legalization and can be transferred to where it is needed once the substance is legal.

Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger added that the legislation is still in its early stages and that the federal government is committed to working with the provinces and municipalities to address such concerns.

The town hall session also included MPs Marwan Tabbara of Kitchener South-Hespeler and Raj Saini of Kitchener Centre.

They were all called on to answer a variety of questions from the more than 50 people who came out Wednesday evening.

Concerns raised by the audience included impaired driving, the minimum age at which people will be allowed to consume and grow the drug, prevention of drug abuse, and what to do about the smell if a neighbour in an apartment building smokes it.

Waterloo resident Lori Trumper, 59, who works in social housing, said she was happy with her decision to attend the session as it answered some important questions for her.

She wanted to know about how to deal with second-hand smoke in apartment buildings.

“They answered it in terms of currently under the landlord tenant board we have the right if somebody’s actions is causing their neighbour to not be able to enjoy their residence — those (rules) are in place now,” she said.