OrganiGram CEO Denis Arsenault defends government funding

The CEO of OrganiGram, a Moncton-based medicinal marijuana company, says funding from the Gallant government will provide an excellent return to taxpayers, creating more than 200 well-paying jobs.

DenisArsenault'scomments come after oppositionMLAscriticized the $990,000 in payroll rebates announced earlier this week.

• Marijuana legalization working group struck by New Brunswick government

• OrganiGram gets $990K from New Brunswick government

In questionperiod onThursday, Progressive Conservative MLA KirkMacDonaldand Green Party Leader David Coon both said the Liberal government should have discussed the decision with the public before moving ahead.

Arsenault says the company employs 43 people currently and the plan is tocontinue adding jobs and expanding the Monctonfacility so it can meet the expected demand when recreationalmarijuana is legalized.

"There's no debating it'll be a minimum of $5 billion per year in sales and we're very fortunate that there is a licence in New Brunswick the only one east of the Ottawa region and we want to make sure that we take as much of that pie as possible for jobs here in New Brunswick," he told Information Morning Moncton on Friday.

Arsenaultsaid the government funding willallow OrganiGram to increase its production capacityfrom the current $25 million in annual salesto as much as$200 million.

"I have 29 competitors across the country and moving forward, all of those companies will be expanding and chasing the same capital," he said.

"At the end of the day there are still pieces of the puzzle that are missing to be able to expand and create more employmenthere and the government's assistance helps us to make sure that we can attract that capital."

OrganiGramtohire locally

The $990,000 in payroll rebates is being provided through Opportunities NB Inc.and includes up to $8,761 for up to 113 jobs.

To qualify for the rebate OrganiGramsalaries must be at least $40,000and the jobs must be maintained for at least three years.

For anybody who is working in our area or even people that are working in other parts of the country that would like to come home, the marijuana industry is one anyone can see is going to be very large.- Denis Arsenault

"Do you want to gamble and miss the boat moving forward? It's an investment that is sizeable but obviously we need to create thatemploymentbefore we can get that contribution," Arsenault said.

He expects OrganiGram will hire more than 300new employees over the next few years, far more than the 113 it is receiving funding for.

Arsenaultwas born and raised in Moncton and intends to hire locally.

"For anybody who is working in our area or even people that are working in other parts of the country that would like to come home, the marijuana industry is one anyone can see is going to be very large."

Arsenaultplans to hirehorticulturalists,microbiologists, chemists and customer service representatives.