Residents speak out against reefer rink
Tempers ignite over plan to turn arena into marijuana factory
It’s the hottest issue Larry Braid, mayor of the township of Georgian Bay, has ever encountered in his 16 years of local politics.
A proposal to shut down a community centre and arena in MacTier and turn the building into a medical marijuana factory brought some 300 people to a heated public meeting on Saturday afternoon.
Tempers flared, with some in the crowd yelling at those doing presentations, including township staff and the company, Mettrum Ltd., that’s planning the factory. A few dozen people stormed out in a huff.
“The people made it very clear that they don’t want to lose their arena and they don’t want a medical marijuana (operation) in the middle of their town,” said Braid.
On April 24, council agreed behind closed doors to sign a letter of intent with Mettrum and hold a public information session at the community centre. As word spread in MacTier, a community of about 1,000 north of Barrie, residents formed a committee to resist it.
The community centre, with the township’s sole arena, sits in the middle of MacTier, across from an elementary school. Residents’ opposition is twofold, said Roy Lovold:
One, the community centre/arena is their gathering place, where kids skate, seniors play cards and events are held. Two, they don’t want a large industry “right smack dab” amid a residential area. “Just pick the right location,” said Lovold.
But the community centre costs about $250,000 a year to operate and brings in only about $40,000. Its usage has been dropping for years, said Braid, who’d like to see it earn about half of what it costs.
“It’s pretty unsustainable in my opinion,” the mayor said, while acknowledging it is a “focal point” in the town.
Mettrum CEO Gregory Herriott said “a lot of positives” came out of the meeting. Since news emerged of the plans, other municipalities have offered to host a factory, he added.
The company and township said it was too early to say whether MacTier was still a possibility, and Braid said the matter would need to go before council.