BC Business
A cloudy arrangement Just days after 420 celebrations, Health Minister Rona Ambrose sent a letter to Mayor Gregor Robertson expressing her concerns over the City of Vancouver’s plans to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. New rules proposed by the city are scheduled to go before city council on April 28 and will include a wide range of new regulatory tools. While the city’s police officials have historically tolerated Vancouver’s pot shops, they are officially in violation of federal law. In the letter sent to the city, Ambrose wrote, “Marijuana is not an approved drug or medicine, and Health Canada does not endorse its use. There are serious health risks associated with smoking marijuana, especially for youth.”
Luxury retailer expands in downtown coreHolt Renfrew is looking to expand its luxury market by about 40,000 square feet. New features would include an 80-seat Renfrew-branded café, an apartment-style private shopping concept and increased space for personal shopping areas. “We are excited about our growth plans and sharply focused on our unique position as Canada’s specialty luxury retailer,” Holt Renfrew president Mark Derbyshire said in a release.
LNG gets a federal boost In an effort to win over (or win back) liquefied natural gas (LNG) companies interested in doing business in B.C., the federal government has extended LNG export licenses from 25 years to a maximum of 40. These extensions were added in Tuesday’s federal budget. Approximately 30 export licence applications are in the hands of the National Energy Board, which has first approval, before the federal government has the final say.