Parliament passed Bill C-45, more commonly known as the cannabis legislation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau subsequently announced that Canadians will be able to legally purchase and use a limited quantity of cannabis for recreational purposes as of October 17, 2018.
CREA CEO Michael Bourque and VP of Public Affairs Randall McCauley appeared as witnesses before the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology on April 30, to express concerns about the legislation focused on home cultivation of cannabis on behalf of Canadian homeowners and REALTORS®. During the appearance, CREA recommended a complete ban on home cultivation or at a minimum a one to two year moratorium to allow the federal, provincial and municipal governments to develop the rules and regulations needed for safe home cultivation.
Several organizations shared CREA's concerns on home cultivation, including police and firefighter associations, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Appraisal Institute of Canada and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. CREA's recommendations and concerns were given serious consideration by the Senate, which proposed an amendment that would ultimately allow provinces to ban home cultivation. The amendment was rejected by the government and did not make it to the final version of the legislation.
Bill C-45 has received royal assent, and provinces and territories will spend the coming months preparing for the implementation of the legal framework. The preparatory period was extended to 17 weeks at the provinces' request, indicating that provinces have concerns about proper implementation.
Given this government's push to pass this legislation, it will be concerning how this may impact property value and landlord rights. Will a home or rental home be stigmatized as compare to illegal grow op?
