Other Issues
Community Control
The territorial plebiscite regime enables community control of alcohol (e.g. restrictions or prohibitions). Bill 6 proposed a similar model for cannabis. Many witnesses asked questions about plebiscites, when they would occur, how they would be organized, and were generally supportive of community control. For some, however, "community control" meant coordinating plebiscites and any subsequent restrictions, while for others this meant local options for retail and production, as we have discussed.
Some witnesses also questioned the overall reasonableness of the plebiscite system, suggesting that, if cannabis is legalized throughout Canada, then each Canadian has a right to consume it.
Although witnesses did not always agree, personal and community autonomy were consistent themes. In Deline, Mr. Morris Neyelle said, "We have to work together to deal with this issue. Marijuana will be with us until the end of the world. It is up to the community to decide... how to deal with it." Ms. Nora Wedzin of Behchoko added this advice: "Don't create what happened with alcohol. Don't impose on [the] community. Listen first."
Notably, the bill would prohibit plebiscites in any community where a cannabis store already operates. This means that communities face a potentially narrow window to exercise plebiscite options, as highlighted in a written submission from the Northwest Territories Association of Communities. It is critical that these timelines be communicated clearly to the public and that all communities be given reasonable opportunity to pursue a plebiscite if they so desire.
Motions 5, 6, 9, and 21 addressed this matter.
Jurisdiction
We heard questions about the regulation of cannabis on reserves and in communities with provisions for self-government:
"First Nations communities and Indigenous governments must have more input into how cannabis laws will be governed within their communities. They must have greater autonomy with how they want to go about legalization, especially in terms of taxation (they should get a cut of the profit, along with the territorial and federal governments), ownership of cannabis retail outlets, and the pricing of all cannabis products in stores that would exist within their communities."
Although these questions are outside of the scope of Bill 6 and are to be debated between negotiating parties, we recognize that they are very important to Indigenous governments. We understand that the territorial government is developing a negotiating mandate on cannabis, and we expect that as legalization proceeds, the GNWT will work more openly and directly with its inter-governmental partners. Members look forward to regular updates as the GNWT's work proceeds on these matters.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to turn the reading of this report to the Member for Mackenzie Delta.