Item - 2020.EY15.15

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on June 29 and 30, 2020 without amendments and without debate.
  • This item was considered by the Etobicoke York Community Council on June 17, 2020 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on June 29 and 30, 2020.

EY15.15 - New Cannabis Retail Locations in Etobicoke York District

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted on Consent
Wards:
1 - Etobicoke North, 2 - Etobicoke Centre, 3 - Etobicoke - Lakeshore, 5 - York South - Weston, 7 - Humber River - Black Creek

City Council Decision

City Council on June 29 and 30, 2020, adopted the following:

 

1.  City Council request that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, when considering the needs and wishes of the community for new retail cannabis locations in Etobicoke York District, give additional weighting to:
 

a.  proximity and size of schools in this urban setting;

 

b.  other retailers and amenities near proposed locations which attract youth and expose them to the cannabis retailer; and


c.  the proximity of parks and other publicly accessible spaces which support or enable consumption of cannabis outside of private homes.
 

2.  City Council request the City Clerk to forward this Item to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario with three business days.

Background Information (Community Council)

(June 8, 2020) Letter from Councillor Stephen Holyday, Ward 2 - Etobicoke Centre - New Cannabis Retail Locations in Etobicoke York District
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-147850.pdf

Communications (Community Council)

(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Joseph Pihura (EY.New.EY15.15.1)
(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Amina Warfa (EY.New.NY15.15.2)

Communications (City Council)

(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Mohamed Hassan (CC.Main.EY15.15.3)
(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Kathy Stoddart (CC.Main.EY15.15.4)
(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Carol Fabbruzzo (CC.Main.EY15.15.5)
(June 18, 2020) E-mail from Joseph Park (CC.Main.EY15.15.6)
(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Sofia Argiropulos (CC.Main.EY15.15.7)
(June 18, 2020) E-mail from Frank Turpin (CC.Main.EY15.15.8)
(June 19, 2020) E-mail from Bhavan Mahendran (CC.Main.EY15.15.9)
(June 19, 2020) E-mail from Catherine and Gary Zakaib (CC.Main.EY15.15.10)
(June 22, 2020) E-mail from Anna Maria (CC.Main.EY15.15.11)
(June 22, 2020) E-mail from Chris and Jean Markou (CC.Main.EY15.15.12)
(June 23, 2020) E-mail from Fatima Abukar (CC.Supp.EY15.15.13)
(June 23, 2020) E-mail from Hassan Ghelle (CC.Supp.EY15.15.14)
(June 24, 2020) E-mail from David De Rose (CC.Supp.EY15.15.15)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Ali Abdulle (CC.Supp.EY15.15.16)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from A. Kulan (CC.Supp.EY15.15.17)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Abdirahman Duale (CC.Supp.EY15.15.18)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Hussein Elmi (CC.Supp.EY15.15.19)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Hassanbile Mohamed (CC.Supp.EY15.15.20)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Gary Cullum (CC.Supp.EY15.15.21)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Zaynab Mohamud (CC.Supp.EY15.15.22)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Anna Barnes (CC.Supp.EY15.15.23)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Muntaha Aden (CC.Supp.EY15.15.24)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Rashid Dhoore (CC.Supp.EY15.15.25)
(June 25, 2020) E-mail from Faduma Hassan (CC.Supp.EY15.15.26)
(June 26, 2020) E-mail from Habiba Adan (CC.New.EY15.15.27)
(June 26, 2020) E-mail from Jamila Yusuf (CC.New.EY15.15.28)
(June 26, 2020) E-mail from Angelo Di Marino (CC.New.EY15.15.29)
(June 26, 2020) E-mail from Maria Dimarino (CC.New.EY15.15.30)
(June 27, 2020) E-mail from Sujatha Naguleswaran (CC.New.EY15.15.31)
(June 29, 2020) E-mail from Amina Omar (CC.New.EY15.15.32)
(June 29, 2020) E-mail from Roda Ahmed (CC.New.EY15.15.33)
(June 29, 2020) E-mail from Mohamud Aden (CC.New.EY15.15.34)
(June 29, 2020) E-mail from Phuntsok topgyal (CC.New.EY15.15.35)
(June 26, 2020) E-mail from Jamilo Mumin (CC.New.EY15.15.36)
(June 27, 2020) E-mail from Abdullahi Farah (CC.New.EY15.15.37)
(June 27, 2020) E-mail from Khalif Salad and family (CC.Main.EY15.15.38)
(June 29, 2020) E-mail from Anab Mohamood (CC.New.EY15.15.39)

EY15.15 - New Cannabis Retail Locations in Etobicoke York District

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
1 - Etobicoke North, 2 - Etobicoke Centre, 3 - Etobicoke - Lakeshore, 5 - York South - Weston, 7 - Humber River - Black Creek

Community Council Recommendations

Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

 

1.  City Council request that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, when considering the needs and wishes of the community for new retail cannabis locations in Etobicoke York District, give additional weighting to:
 

a.  Proximity and size of schools in this urban setting.

 

b.  Other retailers and amenities near proposed locations which attract youth and expose them to the cannabis retailer.


c.  The proximity of parks and other publicly accessible spaces which support or enable consumption of cannabis outside of private homes.
 

2.  City Council request the City Clerk to forward this decision to the AGCO with three business days.

Origin

(June 8, 2020) Letter from Councillor Stephen Holyday, Ward 2 - Etobicoke Centre

Summary

Recently there have been three new cannabis retail locations proposed in Ward 2, Etobicoke Centre; 418 The Westway, 1735 Kipling Avenue and 3112A Bloor St. W. There are new cannabis retail locations proposed in every ward of the district.

 

I have been contacted by numerous residents who have raised concerns about the poor suitability of the locations, and the increased risk of access to cannabis by minors that they pose. Some locations are very close to more than one school, and they are located at or near strip plazas and parks which are frequented by youth. The Provincial regulations require a separation distance of 150 metres between the retailer and a school, and many find this too permissive given the context.

 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is the regulator and approval authority for these retailers. There is limited opportunity for the public and elected municipal officials to intervene in these decisions, giving rise to concerns over transparency and fairness.

 

I hope that you will support the following motion to ensure that the concerns of our community regarding cannabis retail sites are heard by the AGCO and are given adequate consideration in their decisions.

Background Information

(June 8, 2020) Letter from Councillor Stephen Holyday, Ward 2 - Etobicoke Centre - New Cannabis Retail Locations in Etobicoke York District
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-147850.pdf

Communications

(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Joseph Pihura (EY.New.EY15.15.1)
(June 17, 2020) E-mail from Amina Warfa (EY.New.NY15.15.2)

Motions

Motion to Add New Business at Committee moved by Councillor Stephen Holyday (Carried)

1 - Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Stephen Holyday (Carried)

Vote (Adopt Item) Jun-17-2020

Result: Carried Majority Required - EY15.15 - Adopt Item - Councillor Holyday motion 1
Total members that voted Yes: 5 Members that voted Yes are Michael Ford, Mark Grimes (Chair), Stephen Holyday, Frances Nunziata, Anthony Perruzza
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 0 Members that were absent are
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council