Pubdate: Tue, 14 May 2013
Source: Packet & Times (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Orillia Packet and Times
Contact: http://www.orilliapacket.com/letters
Website: http://www.orilliapacket.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2397
Author: Roberta Bell

POT PLANT TALKS STILL ALIVE

Despite public outcry, the company proposing to turn the community
centre and arena in a small Muskoka town into a medical-marijuana
facility is still interested.

Mettrum Ltd., a bio-pharmaceutical company formed solely for the
purpose of researching and producing medical marijuana, was invited by
the Township of Georgian Bay to consider the aging 10,000-square-foot
community centre and arena in MacTier, about an hour north of Orillia,
as a possible plant location in mid-March.

Following a heated meeting May 4 with Mettrum representatives and
township officials that brought out close to half of MacTier's 700
residents, Mayor Larry Braid indicated to The Packet & Times the
company was no longer interested in pursuing the site.

Mettrum CEO Greg Herriott said that's not the case.

"I wouldn't take the arena off the table at all," Herriott said
Monday.

He confirmed the company has not abandoned the letter of intent it
entered into with the township at the end of April.

"We share the concern with the town - it's sad to see an arena go -
but people have to face reality," he said. "This is major tax dollars
going out the window."

While the annual cost of operating the community centre is about
$250,000, Braid told The Packet & Times it only generates about
$30,000 in revenue.

Herriott said Mettrum had been looking for opportunities throughout
the Greater Toronto Area, but saw Georgian Bay Township as a better
fit and felt it could "make a difference" in the community.

The plant could create up to 35 jobs, he said, which, for "a town the
size of MacTier ... is fairly significant."

Aside from the fact the arena is the only one in the township, it's
located across the street from MacTier Public School.

The fact council wants to do away with it came as a "wake-up call,"
said Steven Schell, co-chair of the Save the Community Centre Committee.

"If they're considering it, we better start using it and increase the
revenue and promote it better," he said, noting the committee will be
meeting Friday to discuss ways to do it. "We're not letting our guards
down."

The township is presenting Mettrum with other site options, Herriott
said, adding company representatives will be meeting with officials
this morning.

"We're wide open and optimistic," he said. "We don't want to get in
the middle of that discussion between the township and the townspeople
. I hope it gets resolved in one way, shape or form."

Braid was not available for comment Monday.

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Hot topic kept off docket

While Georgian Bay Township council met Monday morning, the proposal
to turn MacTier Arena into a medical marijuana research and
development facility was not on the agenda.

"It's the hottest topic in Georgian Bay Township and they don't
address it?" said Steven Schell, co-chair of the Save the Community
Centre Committee, which was permitted to make a 10-minute deputation
during the meeting.

The committee recommended working with the township to increase usage
of the arena and come up with new revenue streams, said Schell, who
hopes it was well received.
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MAP posted-by: Matt