The Monday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories
Highlights from the news file for Monday, Dec. 11
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PROVINCES TO GET 75% OF POT TAXES, MORNEAU SAYS: The federal government has agreed to give the provinces and territories a 75 per cent share of the tax revenues from the sale of legalized marijuana. Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced the agreement Monday after a day-long meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts. Morneau says Ottawa will retain the remaining 25 per cent share to a maximum of $100 million a year, with any balance over and above that limit going to the provinces and territories. The larger share, he added, will allow the provinces to “fairly deal with their costs and so they can work with municipalities,” which had been asking for at least a one-third portion of the revenue. All 14 jurisdictions at the table agreed to the key principles reached at the meeting, Morneau said, calling it a “very good outcome.” The original model put forward by the federal government proposed an even 50-50 split, a plan that was immediately shot down by the provinces, many of which wondered aloud what sort of costs Ottawa would be incurring to deserve such a share.
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