OCC Policy Council Looks to Bring Common Sense Reforms to the Cannabis Sector

(Toronto – December 1, 2022) – Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s (OCC) Ontario Cannabis Policy Council (OCPC), released the following statement announcing their 2023 mandate and welcoming its new co-chair:

“I am delighted to welcome Nathan Mison, President of Diplomat Consulting as co-chair of our Ontario Cannabis Policy Council. Nathan is a founding member of the OCPC and a longstanding champion for evidence-based reforms,” said Daniel Safayeni, VP of Policy, OCC. “While a cautious approach from federal and provincial regulators was understandable at the outset of legalization, there is a clear need for common sense policies to better support the viability of a robust and competitive legal sector.”

The OCPC’s 2023 priorities are:

• Implementing the recommendations outlined in Ontario’s Auditor General’s report with specific emphasis on OCS pricing, markups, and transparency around product listing /delisting.
• Championing common-sense reforms to help support the sector’s growth. Be it the structure of the federal excise tax or payment terms for licenced producers provincially, there is an urgent need for change within the current cannabis retail distribution model.
• Advocating for the necessary structural reforms to make Ontario’s cannabis sector more competitive against the illicit market – which still accounts for approximately half of all cannabis consumed in Ontario – including allowing a direct commercial relationship between LPs and retailers.

“Ontario is a critical province in the development of Canada’s cannabis industry. It is home to 75 percent of all cultivators and has the most cannabis retailers in the country. We believe the Ontario cannabis industry can become a strong, sustainable, and vibrant sector that contributes to the growth of this province,” said Nathan Mison,  President of Diplomat Consulting. “As the Co-Chair of the OCPC, we will work every day to advocate for a viable and profitable sector to help drive economic growth for Ontario.”

Launched in 2019, the OCPC looks forward to continuing to work with all orders of government to advocate for the necessary policy and regulatory changes that will address the original intent of legalizing cannabis in Canada: eliminating the illegal market and preventing youth from accessing cannabis.

For further details about the OCPC, click here. For more information on how to join the Council, please contact Daniel Safayeni, Vice President of Policy, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information, please contact:
Michelle Eaton
Vice President, Public Affairs
michelleeaton@occ.ca| Mobile: (647) 261-4594