Simon Ouellette | CUPE Communications
You can add “selling cannabis” to the list of diverse services CUPE members provide. Last fall, the New Brunswick government gave the green light for a 100% public model for the sale of recreational cannabis.
After lobbying, submissions and consultations, CUPE 963, the union representing New Brunswick Liquor workers will be representing workers at Cannabis NB, a subsidiary of NB Liquor Crown Corporation (ANBL), a publicly owned crown corporation.
“Up until this winter, it was not so clear if the workers in the new Crown corporation would be unionized, but our collective agreement contained language that secured recognition of employees in new job classifications. This means these new employees will have good salaries and benefits,” said Jamie Agnew, president of CUPE 963
Agnew said that many NB Liquor employees could get training to become product advisors at Cannabis NB.
“I am confident that recreational-use cannabis will be sold in a safe and responsible way, as our members have proven their professionalism in dealing with alcohol, another controlled substance,” he added.
Cannabis excise tax dollars will be divided 75 per cent/25 per cent between the provinces and Ottawa, and municipalities are seeking to get their share from the provinces.
“Provincial governments are anticipating that cannabis sales will put big money into public coffers, but honestly, it won’t be a cure-all for government revenues,” Agnew said. “Canada’s finance minister estimates the excise tax will bring in approximately 1 billion per year in New Brunswick alone by 2021. But, according to Canadians for Tax Fairness, going after the big tax cheats and tax havens could easily haul in ten to fifteen times what cannabis will.”
