Ontario Cannabis Store Delivery Stoppage Underscores Urgent Need for Reform

(Toronto – August 22, 2022) – Today, Daniel Safayeni, Vice President of Policy at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Chair of the Ontario Cannabis Policy Council (OCPC) released the following statement in response to the Ontario Cannabis Store’s shipping delays due to a cyberattack of its third-party distribution partner:

“This situation underscores the inherent risks of having the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) act as the province’s only wholesale purchaser and distributor of legal cannabis.

“Delays in distribution hurt both retailers and producers, particularly smaller operators who are unable to stock their shelves. With diminished product availability at legal retail outlets, public safety is also at risk as illegal retailers now have the opportunity to regain market share.

“The ongoing delivery issues triggered by a cyberattack was also flagged as a risk in the Auditor General’s (AG) 2021 report, which outlined a range of vulnerabilities including how the OCS manages data and oversight of their delivery service partner. We encourage the government to move swiftly with implementing the recommendations outlined in the AG’s report.

“Beyond this, the OCPC has consistently called for the Ontario government to allow licensed producers and retailers to have a direct commercial relationship, enabling them to negotiate their own product mixes, prices, and delivery terms, which would mitigate the risks inherent to the current system.”

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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 or to arrange an interview:
Andrea Carmona
Manager, Public Affairs
andreacarmona@occ.ca| Mobile: (647) 234-0255