Mayor seeking $8M from province to cover city's pot costs

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has asked the province for $8 million to pay for the city's increased costs related to the legalization of marijuana this summer.

Provinces will receive75 per cent of the pot revenue under an agreement they negotiated late last year with the federal government, and cities across Canada want their share.

• Federal government reaches deal with province to share pot revenue
• Ontario considers allowing marijuana lounges

Legalized marijuana will have an impact on police, whowill be charged with closing down the illegal pot shops that have proliferated in the city since the Liberals,who promised legalization,won the 2015 election.

But the bylaw department, Ottawa Public Health and even the city's fire service "will also be asked to do more" after pot is made legal,Watson said.

Feds, province have 'responsibility'

"Their new duties stem from federal and provincial policy decisions, and I believe the responsibility should rest on those levels of government to fund the impact of this legislative change on municipalities," the mayor said Wednesday inhis annual state of the cityaddress that kicks off the first council meeting of a new year.

City staff estimate implementing and enforcingmarijuana legalization will cost the municipality about $8 million.

"With this in mind, I have recently written to Premier [Kathleen] Wynne and Finance Minister Charles Sousa to highlight these budget pressures, and to ask them for their support in tackling this challenge," Watson announced.

Ottawa is among the Ontariomunicipalities that will host LCBO-runcannabis dispensaries, although Watson said the city has received little information about how many or where they'll go, other than that they won't be located near schools.

Funding for opioidfight

Watson also said that he'll also seek council'ssupport to askthe provincial health minister for more money to address the opioidcrisis, which is resulting in about 30 emergency room visits per month due to overdoses.

"I firmly believe we need a holistic approach to tackle this crisis from a variety of angles and with many partners in order to reach all of our vulnerable populations and to meet people where they are in their journey," Watson said.

The mayor's motion does not name a specific dollar amount, but instead asks for more investment for everything from mental health and addictions treatment to early intervention for children and youth and "harm reduction services for those who need them."