The promise of jobs and expansion of the town's industrial base appears to have been a key factor in a decision by Olds council to approve a development application by a company that wants to produce medical marijuana here. Coun.
The promise of jobs and expansion of the town's industrial base appears to have been a key factor in a decision by Olds council to approve a development application by a company that wants to produce medical marijuana here.
Coun. Mary Anne Overwater made that clear.
"It's great they want to come here," she said during discussion on the matter. "We need to encourage more businesses to come here. Just having residential development is not enough."
Stan Swiatek, founder and director Sundial Growers Inc., said he hopes to begin construction in 2017. He said development will occur in four stages, with 22 jobs created in each phase.
It would be great if that does occur, however, Sundial still has a long way to go before we'll see any pot actually produced there. A lot could happen between now and then which could derail the project.
The company cleared one hurdle when town council approved its permit to build a federally-licensed medical marijuana production facility in the southeast industrial area.
However, it must still obtain approval from Health Canada in order to grow the stuff. Council's approval of a development permit was required just to get to that stage. It must still meet a thicket of federal regulations.
Also, as chief administrative officer Norm McInnis pointed out, many other things need to be done before the first plant starts to grow.
Road access to the company's 10-acre site needs to be created and they need to get water and sewer service there. The company will be footing the bill for that servicing, McInnis noted.
Proponents of big industrial or commercial projects have gotten cold feet before. Let's hope it doesn't happen this time. Sundial Growers Inc. is certainly proposing a different sort of business in this town, but it is a federally regulated business all the same, and we can certainly use the jobs and economic stimulation.
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