Cannabis Tax Revenue Sharing with Local Governments

Whereas the Federal Government plans to bring Bill C-45 into force in July 2018, which will legalize non-medical marihuana cannabis in Canada; And whereas it will be the responsibility of local governments to establish andor enforce regulations related to zoning, business licensing, building code, public consumption and impaired driving, which will result in initial and ongoing costs: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to provide an equal share of the cannabis tax sharing formula to local governments to support these costs; And be it further resolved to support the four principle approach that focuses on the following: - Cannabis legalization should not result in additional local government funding by property taxpayers. - Local governments should be reimbursed for costs associated with the implementation of legalized cannabis. - Local governments should be reimbursed for any additional policing costs resulting from cannabis legalization. - Remaining excise tax revenue after taking out expenses incurred as part of principles 1 - 3 and the federal share should be shared between the Province of British Columbia and local governments.