Mellow out on cannabis enforcement costs in 2019 budget, Edmonton councillor says
'The kind of problems that we've had with people driving stoned and things like that have always existed'
The city could spend less money enforcing cannabis-related bylaws than police are calling for, says Coun. Ben Henderson.
Henderson said relaxing enforcement could save the city $5 million a year.
"It was a little bit likeY2K," he said. "Everybody imagined the crisis coming when cannabis got legalized, I don't think that's happened."
In a budget presentation to council last week, citypolice asked for24 new officers to deal exclusively with cannabis-related cases, like enforcing impaired-driving bylaws. The new hires alone would cost more than $3 million.
"I've never been convinced that cannabis usage is going to go up, particularly;that all the kind of problems that we've had with people driving stoned and things like that have always existed."
- Edmonton police budget request balloons 25 per cent by 2022
- Tax or police? Edmonton councillors weigh options for cannabis control
Henderson said some costs related to zoning and smoking rules are a reality but he doesn't want the city to overdo it.
Mayor DonIvesonblames the Alberta government for leaving cities pay for enforcement cannabis-relatedlaws.
"We're in a real tough spot over cannabis," Ivesonsaid. "Whether our actual costs is $8 or $10 or $12 or $16 millionfor cannabis, the $1.1 million isn't enough."
The federal government is letting the province keep 75 per cent of the taxfrom cannabisand most councillors have expressed frustration that the province isn't coming forward with a revenue-sharing deal with cities and towns.
Iveson said he's going to ask Ottawa to mandate the provincecreate a revenue-sharing deal.
Finance Minister Joe Ceci stuck to his offer in October and said he's not about to increase it.
- Alberta municipalities concerned funds aren't enough to prepare for cannabis legalization
- Alberta finance minister standing firm on cannabis cost-sharing program
Iveson said there's still uncertainty around the impactof cannabis, but he is determined not to let the costs betransferred totaxpayers.