Canada: cannabis soon to be privatized in New Brunswick?

Will sell? Not? The Canadian province of New Brunswick will announce this Thursday whether it will part with its goose that lays the golden eggs. For the past year, the local (center-right) government has been hinting at the possibility of privatizing Cannabis NB, the public corporation with a monopoly on sales. «Yeah... I want to sell it.», commented local Finance Minister Ernie Steeves in an interview with CTV News Atlantic (at 7’45»).

Yet a united front opposes the local government's decision. The Association of New Brunswick Cities, the Assembly of First Nations (native Indians) and ten cannabis growers are calling on the province's Premier to back down. Their main argument? Cannabis NB was not (at all) profitable a year ago, when the government announced its intention to sell. Now, it's turning a profit of almost C$3 million.

«Cannabis NB would have eliminated the main reasons why the government had decided to explore privatization., justifies Adam Lordon, President of the New Brunswick Association of Cities, in an open letter. Privatization could have the opposite effect, leading to lower overall revenues. We fear this will translate into lower sales, lower profits, and fewer people employed in the sector.»

«Boosting the private sector»

Cannabis supports 2,000 people in this eastern Canadian province, formerly a French territory known as Acadie. But the local government seems intent on breaking away from Cannabis NB. «Opening up this new business sector to entrepreneurs is a tangible example of this government's commitment to boosting the private sector.», says the local Finance Minister.

Producers also welcome privatization. «This government can, without investment, or spending a single penny, unleash enormous economic power in this province., says Tanner Stewart, head of a cannabis aquaponics site. In Ontario, 30 stores open every week!»

In Canada, the cannabis legal at federal level. But each province organizes the sale as it sees fit. In Quebec, New Brunswick's neighbor, the SQDC, a public company, has a monopoly on the purchase and resale of cannabis. In (almost) In all other provinces, such as Ontario, the market is privatized.. Public health authorities control cannabis before it is put on the market. But private dispensaries sell it. It remains to be seen what path New Brunswick will take.