On March 22, the provincial government issued a press release naming Niverville as one of seven rural communities pinpointed for cannabis retail. This move marks the second phase in the province’s goal to make cannabis easily accessible to 90 percent of Manitobans.

Phase one of the provincial initiative saw the licensing of retail stores in Winnipeg and other large urban centres. The additional six communities listed for the rural roll-out include Flin Flon, Swan River, Virden, Altona, Lac du Bonnet, and Russell Binscarth.

While Niverville’s council has been actively working to draw new business to the community, Mayor Myron Dyck assures residents that cannabis retail wasn’t something they’d been lobbying for. He says he has many questions for the province about what this announcement entails and hopes to get answers that will give council some clear direction on dealing with what could prove to be a sensitive issue.

“I want to assure you that, as council gets answers and processes the implications of this announcement, I will do my best to provide information to you,” Dyck says in a press release to residents. “Our community, like many others in the province, contains various opinions and views related to the cannabis legalization that took place last fall in Canada. I want you to know I welcome any comments or questions you may have.”

The upcoming weeks and months, he expects, will be spent in research, meetings with the local Chamber of Commerce, and council huddles.

The province’s guidelines for zoning of cannabis retailers will play a role in determining where such a store could be located. Both provincial and municipal zoning bylaws prevent a cannabis store from being located near any school, licensed daycare, or public recreation area. At this point, Dyck doesn’t know where this would leave a retailer within town limits.

As to who will operate a local store, that is out of council’s hands. The retailers in each of the seven communities will be randomly selected by the province from their database of nearly 100 prequalified applicants who responded to the province’s call last summer. A draw will take place this spring. Prerequisites for opening a store include previous retail experience and $300,000 in cash holdings.

“Ultimately, when a retailer is picked for these seven communities, they will work with the municipality,” said Blaine Pedersen to the CBC. Pedersen is the Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade. “As to the actual location, that’s between the retailer and the municipality.”1

The timing of any such retail venture in the community, though, will have as much to do with product availability as it will with legislative formalities. Since legalization of non-medical cannabis use came into effect last fall, the entire country has been dealing with product shortages, limiting the number of retail outlets that can effectively open for business.

“Until we reach that level of where stores can actually have a supply,” Pederson says, “there’s going to be limited interest in opening stores unless you have a product to sell.”2

In the meantime, Mayor Dyck asks for patience and understanding as council works through the process of potential cannabis sales in Niverville.

“We are one community, made up of diverse people, with diverse cultural and faith backgrounds,” Dyck affirms. “Diversity is good, division is not. Together we will work through this decision respectfully and graciously. This is a time where much wisdom is needed for all involved.”