Coun. Chak Au expressed the City of Richmond’s concerns about recreational marijuana regulations to the federal government at a recent panel in Ottawa.
The series of panels named “Social Affairs, Science and Technology” was hosted by the Senate Committees Directorate, which invites councillors and staff from cities across the country to provide input on national issues to senators.
Au was the only councillor in B.C. invited to discuss Bill C-45, which passed a second reading March 22, 2018.
Au was joined by representatives from Calgary, Waterloo，Halifax and Montreal.
He also visited a number of senators the day before the panel discussion to give his opinion on the issue.
“I made the point that municipal governments will be impacted the most if the bill is implemented, however we are the least consulted so far. I think the senators were quite alarmed to hear that,” said Au.
He added that the only formal consultation made by the provincial government has been through the Health Canada survey sent out last November, which was “very little, very late.”
Au pointed out that the City of Richmond’s main concerns with the bill are regarding home cultivation and the fact minors between ages 12 and 18 can possess up to five grams of cannabis.
“I understand their reasons for doing that because they don’t want to criminalize young people who accidentally have a small amount of marijuana,” said Au.
“But it's so confusing because by allowing that in the law, basically you send out the wrong message, saying that it's okay for you to possess up to five grams, which equals 15 joints.
“So the city has taken the position that we are opposed to any possession of marijuana under the age of 18.”
Au said representatives from the other cities also expressed their worries about rushing into cannabis legalization.
“I don’t hear any city saying they are ready to legalize marijuana," said Au.
"Some of them have said, ‘if you make me do it, I would do it. But there is also a condition: give us the resources.' That was the tone of the day.”
The senators will continue the committee meetings until May, then submit a report with recommendations to the Senate, according to Au.
"At this stage, it is very unlikely the bill will be defeated, but there is still a chance that there can be amendments to it," he said.
