Residents' responses to a public meeting in Fort McPherson regarding cannabis legislation suggest the hamlet will opt for a cannabis prohibition plebiscite when the drug is legalized this summer.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations and the Standing Committee on Social Development held a public meeting in the hamlet April 23 to answer questions and get public input on upcoming cannabis legislation.
Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act, the legislation being discussed, proposes two new statutes – the Cannabis Products Act and the Cannabis Smoking Control Act – relating to the legalization and regulation of cannabis. Amendments are also being proposed to the Motor Vehicles Act.
Samantha McKay/NNSL photo
Fort McPherson Mayor Elizabeth Vittrekwa submitted a letter to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs asking for public consultations in every community in the Northwest Territories regarding cannabis legislation March 7.
"There are 33 communities in the Northwest Territories yet the GNWT chose to consult with only nine," Vittrekwa's letter reads. "The issue has broad and potentially serious implications across the territory from a perspective of addictions and of the 'Duty to Accommodate' and we must have the opportunity to discuss it."
Approximately 25 residents attended the meeting and asked questions and shared their concerns about cannabis legislation.
Topics up for discussion included the minimum age for purchasing cannabis, how youth will be protected and whether a cannabis prohibition plebiscite would be possible.
Fort McPherson resident Taig Connell attended the meeting. He said he does not want to see legal recreational cannabis in the community.
"I'm not in support of having any of this in the community … It can't be good for the kids, the children, and I can't see it being a good thing for anybody," said Connell. "We're stepping into something we don't know very much about."
Connell said he would support a cannabis prohibition plebiscite.
"I think there's a fairly good chance there will be a plebiscite," said Connell. "We've done plebiscites in the past and they were successful."
Bill Prodromidis, former mayor of Fort McPherson, also attended the meeting. He said he is concerned about how legalized cannabis will impact young people.
"They're talking about distribution, they're talking about money, but they're not talking about how to protect young kids," said Prodromidis. "The government sees drug dealers making money, and they want to make a profit too."
Prodromidis said he thinks most of the community would support a cannabis prohibition plebiscite.
Kieron Testart, committee chair, said the current legislation would allow for such a plebiscite.
"The lack of quality public information that has been presented to Northerners has been really concerning," said Testart. "A crucial component of this consultation is to transmit everything we're hearing and make it very clear to government so there's accountability at the end of the day."
More public meetings will be held in the territory in the coming week. Residents can also submit their questions and concerns regarding cannabis legislation to the legislative assembly via email or mail until May 4 at 5 p.m.