With the legalization of marijuana in Canada just over a month away, cities across the country are trying to get their finances in order ahead of Oct. 17.
At the final Executive Policy Committee meeting before next months civic election, the City of Winnipeg revealed legalization is going to cost $1.76 million.
READ MORE: Province launches new cannabis campaign ahead of October legalization
While the Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimates municipalities will see legalization run them between $3- and $5-million per half million people, Winnipeg is anticipating significantly lower costs.
Most of Winnipeg’s estimate — $1.2 million — comes from extra costs associated with policing.
![Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.](https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/themes/shaw-globalnews/images/skyline/national.jpg)
Get daily National news
WATCH: Winnipeg police say legalized pot won’t deter drug dealers
![Click to play video: 'Winnipeg police say legalized pot won’t deter drug dealers'](https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/664/735/CARVER_DRUGS_tnb_4.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
The city’s fire and paramedic services say they’ll need another $140,000 to help respond to more service requests, which they anticipate will come when legalization arrives.
To offset the extra expenses, the city is looking at licensing fees and a differential business tax rate to bring in more revenue. The public service looked at a 15 per cent business tax specifically for cannabis retailers, which could bring in $63,000 to $84,000 in potential tax revenue.
Mayor Brian Bowman said he wants to see continued collaborative discussions with federal and provincial governments regarding distribution of the excise tax and funds earned on pot sales.
“I don’t want to see taxpayers and property owners having to subsidize pot, I don’t think that’s fair.”
Bowman said the precise revenue tools relating to pot sales have not yet been outlined by the province of Manitoba.
-With files from Diana Foxall
- The Bank of Canada cut rates again. Here’s why, and what’s next
- Fires and floods: 4 disasters across Canada led to record number of insurance claims in 2024
- Planning a visit to New Zealand? Why you might have to pay more this year
- Kids are feeling the pinch of Canada’s cost of living crunch, poll finds
- The Bank of Canada cut rates again. Here’s why, and what’s next
- Fires and floods: 4 disasters across Canada led to record number of insurance claims in 2024
- Planning a visit to New Zealand? Why you might have to pay more this year
- Kids are feeling the pinch of Canada’s cost of living crunch, poll finds
Comments