Pubdate: Fri, 26 Apr 2013
Source: Beacon Star (CN ON)
2013 Copyright Metroland 2010
Contact: http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/generalform
Website: http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/community/parrysoun
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3695
Author: Roland Cilliers

MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITY PROPOSED FOR MACTIER

GEORGIAN BAY TSP. - Is pot the right path for MacTier?

The Township of Georgian Bay is looking for the community's input on 
the potential of allowing a company to turn the MacTier Arena into a 
facility for medical marijuana. A public meeting is planned for early 
next month to see what locals think the future of the centre should be.

Louise Rivett, councillor with the Township of Georgian Bay, said the 
facility could have significant advantages for the community.

"The operation is for legalized medical marijuana and there's a 
potential that it will create between 12 and 35 full-time jobs in the 
community," said Rivett. "All of their distribution would be done 
through Canada Post, which is right across the street - 1,200 orders 
a day - which brings some viability to our Canada Post office, which 
is at risk right now if you talk to the feds."

According to Rivett, the MacTier Arena requires a significant amount 
of work and also has a high operational cost for the municipality. 
The cost to operate the facility is close to $250,000 a year, while 
it generates about $40,000 in income. The balance is funded by taxpayers.

"With the potential of having a company assume the arena and all the 
costs and operations it frees up our resources and our funds and 
allows us to consider building new facilities," said Rivett. "We can 
build those facilities with capital we can raise along with 
infrastructure money the federal government has released and is 
available to us, up to $51 million - a lot of cash."

Rivett said the potential to have a business take over the facility 
makes it a good time to discuss whether the community should look to 
renovate the existing arena or relocate it.

The township's master plan, completed two years ago, calls for 
recreation areas to be located in an area of MacTier that is still 
being developed.

Rivett stressed that any changes made will follow community wishes.

"If it turns out the community is dead against it the council will 
definitely listen to that. If it seems there's an appetite in the 
community, then we will continue our discovery, keeping the community 
involved every step of the way. There's nothing hidden here. It's 
completely transparent and it's open for discussion."

The public meeting will be held on Saturday, May 4, at 1 p.m. in the 
MacTier arena. A representative from the company will be on hand to 
give a presentation and answer questions.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom