On April 7th, Cavan-Monaghan Future Watch hosted a Zoom meeting featuring speakers from three Ontario communities where commercial cannabis production facilities have been installed. The speakers outlined the challenges these host communities have experienced resulting from the operations of these producers, which include noise, light and odour pollution.
The issues begin with the licensing process. The Federal government issues cannabis production licenses and municipalities are only advised after the fact. They have no influence on this decision.
Production facilities are cropping up close to settlement areas. One industrial hemp site located on a 250 acre parcel is located beside a hamlet and near a school. This facility relies on large, gas-fired generators rather than electricity which cause loud noise 24 hours a day. The generators are used for irrigation among other things. This community received support from their local MP who brought the issue to the House of Commons, but this has not sparked a response. Another possible route for assistance is Health Canada. With only 80 staff covering the entire country, this organization appears to be ill-equipped to provide the support required to address the challenges these production facilities create.
The jobs these producers were expected to create have not materialized, either. There are limited labour requirements at planting and flowering periods, but for according to Hughes, the bulk of these positions are filled by workers who are bused in from the GTA.
Harry Hughes, Mayor of Oro-Medonte, described a long, costly legal battle which continues today as the operator challenges the municipality’s zoning by law limiting production to industrial zoned locations.
Hughes suggested that one of the tools with the most potential to address problems is site plan controls. These provisions address potential issues before they arise, including Minimum Distance Separation limits. Extensive by-laws addressing fencing and “dark sky” policies could also be useful in reducing the impact of cannabis operators on their neighbours.
In conclusion, the group suggested that current legislation protects cannabis producers at the expense of their host communities. The Federal government is the gatekeeper with their license granting power. Challenges launched by individual communities have proven to be expensive and so far, ineffectual. The speakers suggested that the creation of a nation-wide lobby to change existing legislation was the best alternative to influence lawmakers. At the moment, they have secured the support of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to lobby on their behalf.
Outdoor production is considered an agricultural application, which is automatically permitted in agricultural zones. The group suggested that this crop could be subject to specific regulations for which there is a precedent in the tobacco industry.
The most poignant comment was delivered by Trevour Brand, a Lambton County resident whose neighbour rented his greenhouse to a cannabis grower a few years ago. His once peaceful farm became subject to relentless noise from generators, bright lights penetrating the night sky, and a skunk-like odour permeating the area. The local MPAC evaluator concluded that these attributes reduced the market value of Brand’s property, which officially fell from $250K to $99K. Fortunately, the producer closed its doors last year.
In Cavan-Monaghan, Council adopted some regulatory changes to control future local cannabis facilities, including zoning and site plan control by-laws that are among the recommended tools to control the impact of these operations on their neighbours.
To learn more about the initiatives of Cavan-Monaghan Future Watch, visit their website at cmfuturewatch.org. KG
