Suppliers require Health Canada licenses to cultivate and process cannabis. There were more than 400 licence applications under review at the end of last year.
Canada became the first Group of Seven country to legalize recreational marijuana in October but stores didn’t open in Ontario until April 1. Premier Doug Ford scrapped the former Liberal government’s plan to open government-run pot shops, replacing it with a private retail model.
When it comes to alcohol, the province is forging ahead with its plan to expand sales in corner, grocery and big-box stores, Fedeli said. He pointed out Quebec has about 8,000 liquor outlets while Ontario has only 3,000. Some 218 convenience stores are already selling alcohol outside of Toronto without any issues, he said.
‘Symbolic Transformation’
“The time has come for us to treat adults like adults,” the minister said, adding the government will probably take a phase-in approach to the wider alcohol roll-out. It has no plans to privatize the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, one of the world’s largest buyers and retailers of alcohol, he said.
Fedeli was in New York with Ford wooing Wall Street investors with his plan to ease the cost of business while gradually eliminating the budget deficit by fiscal 2023-24. The province is projecting a $10.3 billion deficit this year, after an estimated shortfall of $11.7 billion in the fiscal year that ended March 31.
Part of the program is streamlining government and eliminating waste, including a plan to sell about 486 properties. That’s projected to raise $105 million to $135 million over four years, according to a government news release on April 29.
Fedeli cited the example in his home town of North Bay where a new provincial police station was opened but the old one sat empty for years, racking up heating and maintenance costs. He said he drove the ‘for sale’ sign into the ground himself and the property was sold.
“This is absolutely symbolic of the transformation happening in government,” Fedeli said.
Canada became the first Group of Seven country to legalize recreational marijuana in October but stores didn’t open in Ontario until April 1. Premier Doug Ford scrapped the former Liberal government’s plan to open government-run pot shops, replacing it with a private retail model.
When it comes to alcohol, the province is forging ahead with its plan to expand sales in corner, grocery and big-box stores, Fedeli said. He pointed out Quebec has about 8,000 liquor outlets while Ontario has only 3,000. Some 218 convenience stores are already selling alcohol outside of Toronto without any issues, he said.
‘Symbolic Transformation’
“The time has come for us to treat adults like adults,” the minister said, adding the government will probably take a phase-in approach to the wider alcohol roll-out. It has no plans to privatize the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, one of the world’s largest buyers and retailers of alcohol, he said.
Fedeli was in New York with Ford wooing Wall Street investors with his plan to ease the cost of business while gradually eliminating the budget deficit by fiscal 2023-24. The province is projecting a $10.3 billion deficit this year, after an estimated shortfall of $11.7 billion in the fiscal year that ended March 31.
Part of the program is streamlining government and eliminating waste, including a plan to sell about 486 properties. That’s projected to raise $105 million to $135 million over four years, according to a government news release on April 29.
Fedeli cited the example in his home town of North Bay where a new provincial police station was opened but the old one sat empty for years, racking up heating and maintenance costs. He said he drove the ‘for sale’ sign into the ground himself and the property was sold.
“This is absolutely symbolic of the transformation happening in government,” Fedeli said.
