July marijuana deadline too tight: justice ministers

Provincial and territorial ministers of justice and public safety are urging the federal government to hurry up on solving court delays and slow down on legalizing pot.

British Columbia’s Mike Farnworth said Friday after the twoday political meeting that all provinces are concerned about the Canadian government’s refusal to reconsider its deadline of legalizing marijuana by July 1, 2018.

“I would like us to have more time,” he said. “But in the case of British Columbia, our job is to make sure that we can put in place that framework, and we’re working to that July date.”

Quebec Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee said the rush to meet next summer’s deadline is interfering with the province’s own legislative plans for the fall session.

“It’s asking for us to do a lot within a very short period of time,” Vallee said. “We also had a legislative agenda that’s been pushed because of this. We had no choice. I think it’s the same for all provinces.”

Canada’s public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, insisted at the conclusion of the two-day gathering the July timeline still “appears to be a reasonable one,” despite a crescendo of misgivings from other governments, public health experts and police forces.

Alberta is partway through its public consultation process and Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said she expects to use the results of a recent outreach initiative to release a draft in the coming weeks.