Iqaluit cannabis store inches closer to relocation

Two administrative hurdles remain for an Iqaluit-based cannabis business whose owners want to move to a new location.

The Higher Experience store is located at 70 Fred Coman St. Co-owners Frances and Kevin Ikeno began looking for a new spot last year after learning their lease ends July 31.

The proposed site, at 609 Mattaaq Cres., sits 30 metres from its current location, just across the street.

Under the Nunavut Cannabis Act, the move requires approval from the City of Iqaluit and Finance Minister John Main, who is also the premier.

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, a proposed zoning amendment to allow Higher Experience to make the move was approved unanimously on second reading.

The bylaw still requires final approval on third reading. Council’s next meeting is May 12, but it’s unclear if the bylaw amendment will be considered then.

If council does grant approval, all that’s left is to receive final approval from Main.

“Importantly, this is in the same neighbourhood, the same customer base and the same operator,” Kevin Ikeno told councillors. “There’s no change in the nature of the business, just an opportunity to do it better.”

An April 13 letter from Main, as minister responsible for the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Board, was read out to council at the meeting.

The letter outlined the results of a month-long public consultation overseen by the territory’s Department of Finance, which received 24 submissions, with 20 expressing support for the move.

Three letters concerned the legalization of cannabis in general, while one letter expressed concern that the new store location is about 130 metres from Nakasuk Elementary School.

“Overall, the feedback reflects strong community support for the proposed relocation, with limited opposition,” Main wrote.

The city received 21 submissions from the public in support of the move and two that were opposed.

One respondent wrote that because the new site wouldn’t be centrally located, it could lead to more crime. Another felt it would be too close to a school bus stop and might cause traffic problems.

According to Maiya Twerdin, a clerk in the planning and development department who read out the responses to council, others described the positive health effects of cannabis while one respondent wrote that the co-owners “are good people, and that it would be unfortunate to see the business close.”