Taxation of legalized pot won’t be a government cash cow, Trudeau says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has fired a broadside evidently aimed at U.S. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump – declaring that politicians who spout “hateful rhetoric” and equate all Muslims with terrorists are “ignorant” and “irresponsible”.

“If the mayor pointed out that he feels fortunate that the priorities that I have put forward for the country resonate and are similar to the priorities that the people of Vancouver have put forward, I can assure it is not an accident”, Trudeau said.

“However, we do need to continue to allow processes to go underway where proponents of a broad range of projects can attempt to acquire the social licence that simply was not available – even as a theoretical option – over the past years”.

In terms of other hot-button local issues like housing and transportation, Trudeau says Vancouver and other cities have a “partner” in Ottawa.

He said you don’t always need to be tough.

“On the other hand, if we don’t see any movement, we will think their passage from opposition to government has made them lose this good will and we will raise the tone”, Anne Sainte-Marie said. However, Finance Minister Bill Morneau has since conceded the federal treasury will actually face a .2-billion shortfall as a result of the change (mostly because wealthy people pay professionals to minimize how much tax they pay).

“I’m certainly intending to work with the Catholic Church, including with the Holy See, to move forward on implementing that recommendation to ask him directly to engage with this issue, yes”, he said.

Asked about the possibility of marijuana sales in liquor stores, Trudeau said while it’s the federal government’s job to change the Criminal Code, decisions about sales and distribution will involve provinces and municipalities.

He says in the interview he’s committed to being open and transparent about what is needed to grow the economy. We need to be reassuring Canadians that the science and the environmental impacts and the risks are being properly monitored so that this and any project is truly in the best interest of Canadians and future generations.

Oil would travel through parts of the Great Bear Rainforest as part of the planned pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia.

“As we have said many times, our plan is to reduce taxes for the middle class and that’s what we are focusing on”. “First Nations are also partners on those lands now and we’ve had important conversations with First Nations chiefs”.

“We are going to get this right in a way that suits Canadians broadly, and specifically in their communities”.

Trudeau said the government has dedicated $20 billion in transit funding over the next 10 years. They’ve talked about the importance of Canada securing markets.

“His priorities are the priorities of the people here in Vancouver”.