Item - 2020.TE16.74
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 28, 2020 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Toronto and East York Community Council on July 16, 2020 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on July 28, 2020.
TE16.74 - Cannabis Clustering on Queen Street East
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Ward:
- 14 - Toronto - Danforth
City Council Decision
City Council on July 28 and 29, 2020, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, when considering the needs and wishes of the community for new retail cannabis locations in the City of Toronto, to give additional weighting to:
a. proximity and number of community services that involve children and/or vulnerable adults;
b. the proximity of parks and other publicly accessible spaces which support or enable consumption of cannabis outside of private homes; and
c. any communications from the City of Toronto that do not support clustering of pot shops.
2. City Council request the City Clerk to forward the Item to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario within three business days.
Background Information (Community Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-151356.pdf
Attachment: Letter to the AGCO from the Chair of the Ralph Thornton Community Centre
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-151357.pdf
Communications (Community Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/te/comm/communicationfile-111528.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That City Council amend Toronto and East York Community Council Recommendation 1 so that Recommendation 1 now reads as follows:
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 the City of Toronto and East York district, give additional weighting to:
a. proximity and number of community services that involve children and/or vulnerable adults;
b. the proximity of parks and other publicly accessible spaces which support or enable consumption of cannabis outside of private homes; and
c. any communications from the City of Toronto that do not support clustering of pot shops.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jul-29-2020
Result: Carried | Majority Required - TE16.74 - Adopt the Item as amended |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 21 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 2 | Members that voted No are Mike Colle, Cynthia Lai |
Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Jaye Robinson, John Tory |
TE16.74 - Cannabis Clustering on Queen Street East
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Ward:
- 14 - Toronto - Danforth
Community Council Recommendations
The Toronto and East 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 the Toronto and East York district, give additional weighting to:
a. proximity and number of community services that involve children and/or vulnerable adults;
b. the proximity of parks and other publicly accessible spaces which support or enable consumption of cannabis outside of private homes; and
c. any communications from the City of Toronto that do not support clustering of pot shops.
2. City Council request the City Clerk to forward this Item to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario within three business days.
Origin
Summary
In the past few months a noticeable cluster of cannabis shop applications have been made on Queen Street in the Riverside Neighbourhood of Toronto-Danforth.
The Provincial regulations are far more permissive than the originally proposed Municipal rules, which would have prevented some of the clustering issues.
As you can see by this chart, these four applications occur within a city block. They are immediately across the street or beside a city of Toronto Community Centre and Park, a Children's Services drop in centre, a Toronto Public Library branch, and two supportive housing apartment buildings.
Store Name |
Location |
Date Notice Received |
META CANNABIS CO. |
698 Queen St. East |
May 4, 2020 |
Nova Cannabis |
728 Queen St. East |
June 4, 2020 |
TBD |
745 Queen St East |
June 12, 2020 |
Cannoe |
800 Queen St. East |
June 2, 2020 |
I have received a letter of concern from the Ralph Thornton Community Centre about the proliferation of stores in such a small geographic area. I am attaching this letter for you.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-151356.pdf
Attachment: Letter to the AGCO from the Chair of the Ralph Thornton Community Centre
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-151357.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/te/comm/communicationfile-111528.pdf
Motions
Vote (Adopt Item) Jul-16-2020
Result: Carried | Majority Required |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 6 | Members that voted Yes are Ana Bailão, Paula Fletcher, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Gord Perks (Chair), Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Brad Bradford, Joe Cressy |