Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jun 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 PROPOSAL PULLED FROM ARENA

Georgian Bay Township council cancels deal for medical-marijuana
facility

The company that hoped to turn a community centre and arena in a small
Muskoka town into a medical-marijuana facility has seen its plans go
up in smoke.

"The arena's off the table," Greg Herriott, CEO of Mettrum Ltd., said
Tuesday.

Georgian Bay Township council voted Monday to cancel the letter of
intent it entered into with the biopharmaceutical company, which it
had invited to consider the nearly 50-year-old, 10,000-square-foot
community centre and arena in MacTier as a possible plant location, in
April.

On May 4, during a heavily publicized meeting with Mettrum
representatives and township officials, residents, including the ones
who formed the Save Our Community Centre Committee, expressed their
dissatisfaction with the proposal.

Mayor Larry Braid previously told The Packet & Times council would
ultimately take into consideration feedback from the town's 700
residents when making its final decision.

Despite the outcome, Herriott said the experience has been a positive
one for Mettrum, which was formed solely for the purpose of
researching and producing medical marijuana. "In a way, it's opened a
lot of doors," he said, adding Mettrum has already received a number
of invitations to explore setting up shop elsewhere in central Ontario
and isn't opposed to looking at other spots in Georgian Bay Township
if council is interested in going that route.

"We're looking at quite a few options now ... We didn't go away from
the table disgruntled."

Herriott said he understands why the residents of MacTier became upset
at the thought of losing their community centre and arena - the only
one in the township.

"I really hope it works out" for them, he said.

Braid, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday, said last month the
annual cost of operating the MacTier arena and community centre was
about $250,000, but that it only generated about $30,000 in revenue.

"It's brought the community together," Herriott said of the
controversy, "which is a great thing ... I really hope the community
comes together and finds a way to use that arena."
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MAP posted-by: Matt