Kathleen Wynne wants answers on Toronto cannabis store location near school

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she is going to ask how a decision was made to place one of the province’s first government-run cannabis stores near a school. (Canadian Press)

The premier said she would ask her staff what led to the selection of the Toronto site.

“I am going to ask a question about exactly how the decision was made,” she said. “I just want to know that the school board had input into it.”

Location came as surprise to TDSB

The province announced the locations of its first four pot stores on Wednesday, saying they’d be set up in Guelph, Kingston, Toronto and Thunder Bay.

“If we had been consulted, we would have consulted with parents,” she said, noting that some have complained to the local trustee.

“We’re kind of surprised, actually,” said Pilkey. “We heard nothing about this.”

Watch – Questions over pot shop location in Scarborough

‘A bit like the Wild West,’ board chair says

She said the lack of communication is concerning, given that dozens more shops are set to open across the province this year. Once locations are announced it becomes harder to change them, she said.

“To me this is a bit like the Wild West — they don’t know how it’s going to run out, so I think caution in the beginning would have been a good idea,” she said.

The Ontario Public School Boards Association said the site selection process itself isn’t clear and that needs to change.

Ontario was the first province to announce a detailed plan to sell and distribute marijuana after the federal government announced it would legalize recreational pot by this summer.

The LCBO has said store locations would comply with local zoning rules, minimize proximity to schools and factor in where illegal dispensaries are currently operating.

Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa said Thursday there are ongoing discussions with municipalities and other stakeholders about the placement of the stores (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Locations selected ‘to combat’ illegal dispensaries

Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa said Thursday there are ongoing discussions with municipalities and other stakeholders about the placement of the stores, but noted that finding appropriate locations is more difficult in cities due to density.

“In certain urban communities it’s difficult to have that degree of separation,” Sousa said. What’s more, he said, “in some of these locations we have illegal dispensaries so we want to combat them.”

New Democrat lawmaker Peter Tabuns said there’s no indication, however, that the government’s plan will help tackle the black market.

“I don’t think they’re going to have enough outlets to actually provide an alternative to people,” he said.

Original Article – CBC