PotCo no more?

> Port Coquitlam officials look to ban marijuana sales

Aaron Guillen Staff Reporter

ort Coquitlam residents may soon

lose the luxury of easy accessibility to marijuana, should specific bylaw changes take place within the next few months. A report from Port Coquitlam city staff has given the recommendation to city council to: “Prohibit the sale and distribution of marijuana products and related paraphernalia.”

Recently, city officials have been dissatisfied with the recreational marijuana sales that have been taking place on their soil. According to a report from the Joint Smart Growth Committee and Community Safety Committee, the need to review municipal regulations

has arisen due to the sudden appearance of compassion clubs and vape shops. In addition, the Liberal federal government is expected to fulfill their campaign promises and begin the regulation of medical and non-medical marijuana by this summer.

Last November, Port Coquitlam officials took their action as Cannabis Culture, a local marijuana store front, was raided by RCMP and had products seized for inspection under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Looking to the future, Cannabis Culture is planning on shutting its doors very soon. With under three months since the seize, Jodie Emery, spokesperson for the marijuana dispensary, shared her disdain for the business’ prospects with the press.

“This is a very sad time for the city of Port Coquitlam and I feel sorry for the citizens there who have to live under such a regressive local government,” she said to the Tri-City News.

In addition, she expressed her distaste concerning the specific bylaw changes, calling them “ridiculous.” With added pressure from city officials, the landlord has been under harsh scrutiny and has decided to take action.

Recently, Mayor Greg Moore shared his point of view to Tri-City News on the ordeal.

“..[A]ny paraphernalia sold is only promoting an illegal substance. They're all leading towards illegal activity,” said Moore to the Tri-City News. “[Essentially], they’re operating illegally. They're in violation of city laws, federal

A leader in your backyard?

> New Westminster/Burnaby MP places bid for NDP leadership

Mercedes Deutscher News Editor

ew Westminster—Burnaby MP

Peter Julian became the first person to officially enter the federal NDP leadership race, which is to start in July and culminate in October.

After current leader Thomas Mulcair lost the confidence of his party at the NDP’s April 2016 convention, many began to speculate whether or not Julian would attempt to run for the leadership.

On February 12, Julian confirmed the rumours by announcing his bid at the Columbia in New Westminster, with his leadership announcement broadcast live on Facebook.

“Our vision is to change politics in this country. We have an appointment with destiny in the fall of 2019, just 33 months from now,’ Julian said, as reported by The National Post. “The next election will not be about polls or money or any of the superficial things our national media love to talk about. The next election is about the future of our country and of our planet.”

Julian has been an NDP member of parliament since 2004. During his 13-year tenure as an MP, he has held a multitude of roles within the NDP— House Leader, and critic of finance,

energy, persons with disabilities, etc. Yet what would the NDP look like with Julian in charge? It seems that Julian will use his experience learned from his various roles in the NDP to his advantage in structuring policy. Financially, this would mean ending tax breaks for the wealthy,

Image via ipolitics.ca

creating a strategy to slow housing

inflation, and removing tuition fees. Julian spoke of making post-

secondary education as accessible

to the public as healthcare is. Environmentally, Julian said that

his party would create jobs in the clean

energy sector in order to phase out

Image via Thinkstock

laws, [and] of their lease agreement. These are not upstanding people. They're willing to break the law at every corner, and we don’t want those types of people in our community.”

On a related note, the local cannabis industry is raising the issues of the plain packaging and advertising ban route, in preparation for future federal legalization. Garfield Malhood, president of the Campaign for Justice on Tobacco Fraud, doesn’t have faith in the federal government to effectively regulate and restrict the marketing of marijuana. Until that day comes, residents across the Metro Vancouver region can only hope that local and federal officials have their best interests in mind.

less-clean energy producers, and would continue to oppose oil pipelines. Social issues that are a concern for Julian include continuing efforts to reconcile with Indigenous peoples, as well as addressing homelessness. “Homelessness in Metro Vancouver and all of the country has reached, as far as I’m concerned, an unacceptable level, and it’s an issue that hasn't galvanized the support of any major leader,’ Julian said to The New Westminster Record. While others are likely to enter the NDP leadership race soon—with an early NDP leadership debate scheduled for March 12—Julian is securing an early upper-hand on his to-be-announced opponents. He has not wasted time in fundraising for his campaign. Even before he announced his bid for leadership, Julian has been able to fundraise $31,000 from supporters as of the end of 2016, according to The National Post. Julian also has the support of New Westminster mayor Jonathan Cote. “He’s been an incredible member of Parliament for over a decade; not only represented New Westminster well, but really represented Canada well,’ Cote said to the New Westminster Record. “I think he’s putting forward a positive vision for the NDP leadership and it’s what the party needs at this point in time.”