Archives September 2021

Cannabis users will drive into murky territory when they get behind the wheel

For the millions of Canadians who use cannabis, there are just 64 days left until they can light up a joint, inhale and breathe easy knowing that they are staying comfortably within the confines of the law.

But even after Oct. 17, when cannabis becomes legal, marijuana users who get behind the wheel will find themselves veering back into murky legal territory. While there may be new drugged driving laws on the books — and saliva testing devices heading soon to a police cruiser near you — critics say the legal landscape is still hazy for marijuana users who drive, with the potential to criminalize people who are not actually impaired.

Canadian regulators have now legal limits for blood concentrations of THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana — even though researchers say there is no direct relationship between impairment and specific levels of THC in the bloodstream. Critics have also pointed to potential issues with roadside saliva testing devices, which were not designed with Canadian winters in mind and require internal temperatures of at least 4 C to work.

Civil liberties advocates now worry the government has adopted a “zero tolerance” approach based on inconclusive science. They fear that sober people will end up receiving criminal records — and those at greatest risk will be medical cannabis users and racialized communities that are already over-policed, said Rob De Luca with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

“It’s going to criminalize a host of individuals who are basically going about their day, thinking they’re doing completely legal behaviour,” said De Luca, director of the CCLA’s public safety program. “The impact of bringing the full weight of the state and the criminal justice system against someone who may not have been impaired behind the wheel — that’s a remarkable thing.”

Critics like De Luca do not question the dangers of drug-impaired driving or the importance of taking public safety into account. Studies have shown that cannabis can and organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving have come out strongly in support of Canada’s new impaired driving laws.

Studies have also shown a after cannabis use, with some papers suggesting . A recent Statistics Canada survey also found that with a driver’s licence admitted to getting behind the wheel within two hours of consuming the drug.

But regulating cannabis is a much trickier proposition than regulating alcohol, which has now been thoroughly studied for decades. Alcohol is a simple molecule that eliminates from the body at a constant rate; cannabinoids like THC have complicated metabolic pathways and get stored in fat, releasing at different rates.

Frequent, chronic users — such as medical cannabis users — can also develop tolerance. And they can test THC positive for much longer periods than occasional smokers; , which looked at 30 men who were daily cannabis smokers, found that two people were still THC-positive 30 days after their last toke, albeit at low blood concentrations.

There is plenty of evidence that a person with a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.08, Canada’s legal limit, is clearly impaired. But cut-off points are harder to generalize for cannabis users because THC affects everyone so differently, depending on a variety of factors — everything from a person’s history of cannabis use to the amount of fat tissue they have in their bodies.

“It makes it very complex to evaluate what a blood concentration means in terms of someone’s performance or behaviour,” said Dayong Lee, a toxicology manager with the Houston Forensic Science Center who has studied cannabis and impairment.

But Canadian regulators have decided to impose blood concentration limits for THC, even while acknowledging that “science is unable to provide general guidance to drivers about how much cannabis should be consumed before it is unsafe to drive or before the proposed levels would be exceeded.”

It is now illegal for Canadian drivers to have blood THC concentrations of five nanograms (ng) per millilitre or more — a crime that carries mandatory penalties of $1,000 and jail time for repeat offenders. Drivers with at least 2.5 ng/ml of THC in their blood, combined with low levels of alcohol, will also be charged.

Regulators have also made it a summary offence to have concentrations of between two and five nanograms per millilitre of blood. Offenders receive a maximum fine of $1,000 and a criminal record, which they can apply to suspend only after five years.

“The government should take every public safety approach that’s appropriate, but they shouldn’t take it when the scientific foundation is not clear,” said Kyla Lee, a Vancouver lawyer who defends impaired driving cases. “Meanwhile, people (will be) getting criminal records for drugs, which will render them inadmissible to the United States and have all sorts of consequences for employment, families, life insurance, etc.”

According to Dayong Lee, the cut-off points of two and five nanograms per millilitre are based on a handful of studies in which the majority of people showed some cognitive impairment at these concentrations. But these studies are based on relatively small populations and “it’s hard to generalize” their results, she said.

“I can think of less than 10 studies that support the five nanograms being impaired,” Lee said. “It’s really critical that drug blood concentration itself is not being used solely to demonstrate that this person is impaired.”

Forensic toxicologist Marilyn Huestis agrees. During her two decades with the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse, she conducted numerous studies looking at cannabis impairment and was “amazed” to find that in , she could still detect signs of impairment even three weeks after their last usage.

But she has yet to see a significant correlation between specific blood drug concentrations and impairment. “My philosophy for identifying impaired driving … the first thing is that you show the person is really impaired. Because some people might have five (nanograms) or two (nanograms) and maybe they’re not impaired,” she said. “Then you do the biological sample to point (out) which drugs are causing the impairment.”

Yet, Canadian laws do not explicitly require drivers get tested for impairment before they can be charged with drug-impaired driving.

The Canadian government is also introducing new roadside devices that act as a kind of breathalyzer exam for drugs, including THC. But instead of blowing, drivers provide saliva samples that are tested on the spot using the same immunological technology as pregnancy sticks.

These devices can reveal whether specific drugs might be present, but further tests are needed to confirm blood concentration levels. The first device being considered for Canadian approval is the Draeger DrugTest 5000, which has received early criticism for requiring an internal temperature of at least 4 C. “Lots of Canada, lots of the time, is below four degrees Celsius,” Kyla Lee said.

In an email, Draeger Canada said its technology is “well suited to Canada, with internal temperature control functionality that helps ensure optimal performance in a broad range of conditions” but was unable to respond to followup questions by press time.

Huestis said she’s tested the Draeger DrugTest 5000 and it “works very well.” The device is already in use in countries like Australia and Spain, and in Norway, police apprehensions of DUI drivers more than doubled after the device was introduced, .

But other jurisdictions have reported lacklustre experiences with the device. According to tender documents, the Irish government anticipated that 50,000 tests would be performed with the device every year. Last year, however, police only used it on 612 drivers, with 90 testing positive for drug use.

A senior police officer that the length of time required to use the device — at least 10 minutes — was a deterrent for officers, who opted to focus on alcohol detection instead. He said some officers also struggled to get usable saliva samples from nervous drivers, whose mouths would dry up.

According to a federal Department of Justice spokesperson, the Draeger DrugTest 5000 was recommended for approval by the Canadian Society of Forensic Science, which is also evaluating a number of other drug screeners. The device is now undergoing a 30-day “public comment period” that closes on Aug. 18, after which the attorney general will decide whether or not to approve it for use in Canada.

Farmer thanked for dousing Innisfil fire

Larry Kell is being called an unsung hero after helping a fellow farmer during a Gilford fire.

At 4:30 p.m. on July 20, a hay bailer caught on fire on Bruce Drybrough’s farm, on Shore Acres Drive.

“Phones began ringing within minutes in the shirt pockets of many neighbours, and while the fire department began its response, so did the community,” neighbour John Trotter said. “Within minutes I was aware of the fire’s location and I drove to (Drybrough’s) driveway to see what help was required.”

One fire truck had already arrived and was beginning to slow the spread of the fire, but the wind was pushing the fire across the 10-acre field of fresh-cut straw, toward Trotter’s fields of dry standing wheat, as well as Drybrough’s hardwood bush.

As he was going to get his backhoe, Trotter saw a familiar white pickup truck speed to the rescue.

“Anyone who lives in south Innisfil recognizes the white pick up trucks as a sure sign that a member of the Kell family is near.”

Larry Kell was at the wheel, gunning his truck toward the fire.

He had already ordered his farm staff to deliver his largest tractor, equipped with their biggest tilling discs.

“In two minutes I watched as the massive tractor approached across my wheat field,” Trotter said.

By then, loose and baled hay was on fire and many people worked together to till the land to douse the flames.

“(Kell) climbed into the driver’s seat, put the hydraulic discs down into the locked position and headed for the danger of the burning fields,” Trotter said. “Within seconds (Kell) began to lessen the fire’s ability to do damage as he turned the burnt straw field into freshly tilled powdery soil.”

In just over an hour, the main fire had been extinguished and Trotter noted it had come within three feet of a 60-year-old split rail fence near his property.

“Larry Kell deserves special recognition for being the neighbour who knew what to do and for doing it. He had the equipment and took action,” Trotter said.

Why a heritage forest near Beeton represents ‘first chapter in town’s history’

Residents who have watched over Beeton’s heritage forest for decades will continue to play an important role to ensure the property remains protected for generations to come.

Neal Arbic belongs to the group of 40 volunteers who have maintained the walking trails throughout the forest and lobbied council to protect its natural features and archeological sites.

“We call it a heritage forest because it’s the first chapter in our town’s history,” he said. “It’s the first known place where people lived, the First Nations, and when the Loyalists came to found our town, there were no roads leading there, they took single file trails established by the First Nations. They were very much like the single file trails you still find in the heritage forest today, so we consider it like preserving Beeton’s Main Street. It’s not just a forest, it’s part of our heritage.”

Arbic and other residents were instrumental in convincing council to protect the ravine forest.

They became quite concerned after some preliminary discussions took place about three years ago about designating the property as a dog park.

Now that council has signed off on the plan to donate the town-owned property to the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust (ORMLT) through a stewardship agreement, volunteers are looking forward to what comes next.

Arbic credited Ward 1 Coun. Marc Biss for championing their cause.

“I’m honoured that Neal and the ORMLT offered me the opportunity to play a role in the donation of this environmentally and culturally significant forest and wetland,” said Biss.

Moving forward, the volunteers will work with the land trust as members of the Heritage Forest Preservation Society, a nonprofit corporation.

“We’ll be signing a stewardship group agreement with the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust to look after the lands and follow their directives,” he said. “A big reason why the property interested them was that it already had a built-in stewardship group. They couldn’t afford to take the property without it.”

There’s much more than just trees and trails that make the site so special.

Hundreds of years ago, the property contained a First Nations village of between 300 to 400 people with 30 to 40 longhouses.

The village enjoyed prosperity for some time as a trading route that connected to the Albion Hills Trail.

“They were traders and they found stuff, like a flint, as far away as Pennsylvania, so there was a lot of trading back and forth there,” he said.

The village was abandoned after most of the people were killed during an attack.

“Bodies were left everywhere,” he said. “While there are proper burial sites on the property, there are also scattered remains, so that’s why we always felt this needs to be protected.”

It’s believed the survivors made their way north and joined another nation.

The history of the site isn’t widely known, but information is available at local libraries and there have also been archeological digs in the past.

The first one took place in 1966, and a second, much more elaborate, was done in 1976.

“They discovered a number of things and that’s also what led to the discovery of certain endangered plant species,” he said.

Arbic said the forest couldn’t be in better hands, noting how the land trust will do a baseline study of the property as a starting point.

“They are going to bring in soil specialists, botanists, every type of expert that will go through every acre, examining and taking samples,” he said. “By the end of that, we will know exactly where the archeological sites are, there might be more than one and some that are undiscovered.”

Innisfil development charges could be highest in Simcoe County

Costs will be going up to build a new home in Innisfil, thanks to a revamping of the development charges.

The only question is if the town will become the most expensive spot in the county.

The current development charge bylaw expires on Jan. 31, 2019 and a special public meeting Aug. 8 discussed the proposal.

Hemson Consulting Ltd. has recommended changing the fee boundaries to lump Alcona, Stroud and Big Bay Point into the same category; Gilford, Degrassi Point and Lefroy-Belle Ewart into another; and Innisfil Heights and Churchill together. Friday Harbour and Cookstown would each stand alone.

It is proposing to raise the town’s overall residential charges from $51,460 to $61,187, making it the highest in Simcoe County.

By comparison, Barrie’s development charges in the Salem and Hewitt’s Creek area are $47,389 and Bradford West Gwillimbury’s is at $50,501.

Lawyer Marvin Geist spoke representing the Alcona Downs Developments Inc., a member of the Alcona developers’ group.

“Our concern is the developers in Alcona wonder why we should be contributing to pipes and water in Stroud,” Geist said. “Growth pays for growth and we have paid our share in Alcona. We do not understand why we should be supporting development in Stroud.”

But Ward 1 Coun. Doug Lougheed suggested Stroud has paid for water and wastewater charges, even though most of the town is on a well and septic system.

“If there are no services available, you don’t pay,” town chief financial officer Lockie Davis said. “So if there was an infill lot in Stroud today, there is no sewer charge.”

Ward 2 Richard Simpson was concerned the increase might stall the town’s growth.

“I wasn’t disappointed with the cost, I was hoping it’s higher because new residents want more services,” Simpson said.

However, some taxpayers don’t need more services and would rather see property taxes stay low, he added.

“With increased growth, there’s a lot of burden that happens and we’re all aware of it. In my opinion, growth creates a dystopian society in the town of Innisfil.”

Council received the information from the public meeting and a staff report is expected at council Sept. 5.

Here are five places you can skateboard in Simcoe County

Midland

606 Little Lake Park Rd.

• Features a variety of rails, blocks and a half pipe

 

Collingwood

451 Third St.

• Reopened last year thanks to support from community groups including the Optimist Club

 

Wasaga Beach

1724 Mosley St.

• A fixture in Wasaga Beach for the better part of the last decade, with a variety of equipment for tricks

Angus

8527 County Rd. 10

• Located behind the Angus Arena; features a half pipe

Barrie

55 Ross St.

• Features steps and walls for boarders to practise their skills

Midland’s Waypoint Chigamik Health Hub receives $615,000 from county

The County of Simcoe has provided $615,000 toward the new Chigamik Waypoint Community Health Hub being built on Lakeshore Drive in Midland.

“We don’t see that as a grant. We see it as an investment in our communities and an investment in our health care,” said Marshall. “I really do believe that if we don’t have proper health care, including mental health care, our communities suffer.”

The will house Waypoint outpatient services and all of what Chigamik currently offers at its 845 King St. location. It will also , which will offer walk-in access to a variety of mental health services for those aged 12 to 25.

“We are going to see and our patients and clients are going to see so many benefits from us being co-located in this building. There will be a multitude of services under one roof,” said Carol Lambie, Waypoint CEO.

The funding is part of a $45-million, 15-year commitment the county has made to funding area hospitals.

Lambie says officials are working through the approvals process with the Ministry of Health and hopes to move in to the new facility in the spring.

Penetanguishene flower shop donates bouquets to seniors

Jarlette Health Services and Arbour’s Flower Shoppe teamed up on Tuesday, July 24 to deliver 59 handmade Be Happy Bouquets to residents at the Villa Retirement Lodge, the Villa Care Centre and Bayfield House Retirement Lodge.

Working with Teleflora, an online floral purchasing network, Arbour’s Flower Shoppe was able to provide the arrangements as a heartfelt in-kind donation to all three Homes. 

As Diane Bald, owner of Arbour’s Flower Shoppe states, “This gives us the opportunity to give back to our community in a beautiful and thoughtful way. It’s a special opportunity to spread smiles, make people happy and share a memorable moment with individuals who may have never experienced the joy of receiving flowers.”

This is the first year Arbour’s Flower Shoppe has participated in one of Teleflora’s campaigns.

 



Doug Measures — Clearview mayor

Community service is in my nature. Having proudly served the citizens of Clearview Township as your Ward 1 councillor for 12 years, it has been an enriching time to see our community grow and flourish with many new businesses setting up shop and being successful. Helping small businesses, large employers and the agricultural community be successful in a globally competitive market has been a continued focus of my council work. I place great importance on finding balances within our community recreation facilities and its programming that help keep local residents active and involved.

Our township can continue to be successful if we rebuild a positive partnership with our community volunteers. The confidence in our leadership at council has been damaged this past term. It is evident in the lack of public participation in surveys or appearances at council meetings where there are opportunities to ask questions and get direct answers. I am offering a change in mindset and working environment which includes the way your council conducts your community business. It is my hope citizens will approach their mayor or councillors with ease and without hesitation to ask questions and share opinions knowing with certainty they will be heard and understood. Council makes decisions best when they are well-informed. As your mayor, I will insist that council remains engaged and informed before any direction is given to our staff.  We are well-staffed with dedicated professionals that go the extra mile for us every day. This renewed commitment to communication and improved partnerships must include you, our citizens, community volunteers, council and township staff.  

I have lived here in Clearview Township since 1977. I was in the room when Clearview was created at the first Clearview council meeting. My wife and I have two sons. I am recently retired from a 34-year career in community television production, having worked my entire time here in the South Georgian Bay Area. I have the experience, the honesty and the integrity to be your mayor and I have the passion and time needed to dedicate myself fully to serving Clearview every day. You can visit for more information or feel free to contact me directly ator . I can also be found on Facebook at

Five things happening at the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce

1. Win $5,000 — Every registered player in its Sept. 14 golf tournament at Tangle Creek has a chance to win a prize valued at $5,000 from Turkish Airlines, regardless of their golfing abilities. The prize will be awarded at the tourney. To play or be a sponsor, call the BCC at 705-721-5000 or visit

2. Amazon Project — BCC members have access to an invite-only pilot project with one-on-one interactions with Amazon’s direct sales team, free of charge, to help you evaluate and use the right tools for your business. A webinar takes place Aug. 15; sign up here:

3. Know Your Power — Join the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Barrie Chamber for a free breakfast seminar on Thursday, Aug. 23 to learn about practical energy cost-saving programs that are available for businesses in Ontario. Register at

4. Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) — BCC is offering free access to the acclaimed Trade Accelerator Program to its members. TAP is designed to help you develop a market entry/export strategy to get the best global exposure for your business’s products or services. Session start as early as Aug. 28. For more information, visit: 

5.  Israel Consul General — BCC is hosting the Israel Consul General on Aug. 27 to brief its membership and community on the benefits of engaging in trade with the Israel. Sign up at or call the chamber at to find out more.

Proposed building fee harmonization would increase Midland rates

Building fees in Midland would increase significantly if the town aligns their rates with Penetanguishene.

The two municipalities have proposed an agreement, which would harmonize building permit fees and charges in both towns until 2021.

“We had the same staff enforcing the same code, to the same service level and to a great extent that should occur at the same fee level between the two municipalities,” said Wes Crown, director of planning and building services.

Midland’s rates have not increased since 2005, while Penetanguishene fees recently increased.

In Midland, the average building fees for a 1,500-square foot deck would increase from $1,808 to $2,371, while the average fees for 6,348-square-foot office building would increase from $3,652 to $6,425.

Crown says the proposed fees would still be lower than the majority of fees charged across Simcoe County.