CSS Urges Federal Government to Include Cannabis Companies in their COVID-19 Support Plans

March 23, 2020


March 20, 2020
Hon. Navdeep Bains, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
235 Queen St, Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H5

Hon. William Morneau, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
90 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5

Ministers:
On behalf of the regulated cannabis sector, its employees, shareholders, customers/patients, and
companies, we are requesting that the Government of Canada implement immediate measures to provide
economic stimulus to our industry.

Canada’s cannabis industry has weathered several shocks in the past six months, including the loss of
over 2,000 well-paying jobs in the sector. Our access to capital, including credit, is challenging. COVID-19
has added another significant impact, both with our suppliers and our workforce.

As the federal government considers supports for small, medium and large Canadian businesses, we ask
that the regulated cannabis industry be included. Some identified ways to do this are:

• Equal and fair access to significant supports for all cannabis companies working to keep
employees employed, including access to wage subsidies as announced on March 18, 2020 by
the Prime Minister and Finance Minister. The announcement made March 18 is only applicable
to small businesses but a number of stakeholders across the industry employ a greater number
than would qualify under the definition of small business;

• Equal and fair access to funding through federal agencies, EDC or BDC as other industries have
for credit instruments. Presently, for example, BDC has indicated that the regulated cannabis
sector can not access the $10B in stimulus funding, part of which is available through that crown
corporation.

We are not asking for special treatment, but rather equitable treatment.

These are difficult times and we appreciate the Government of Canada taking decisive action. Regulated
cannabis companies face economic stigmatization despite serving the legal, federally regulated system.
All Canadian cannabis companies highly value our employees, patients, and consumers — their health
and safety are our top priority.

We are asking that this industry, which has added a cumulative total of $8B to the Canadian GDP over
the course of the last year, specifically and explicitly be included in all economic stimulus measures and
provided the support that is being offered to every other Canadian business at this time.

Sincerely,

Paul Duffy
365 Vertical Group

Corey Tyacke
5Buds Cannabis

Andrew Morin
7 Points Cannabis

John Carle
Alberta Cannabis Council

Michel Timperio
Association québécoise de l’industrie du cannabis

Christian Lopez
Atlas Growers

Rick Savone
Aurora Inc.

Jason Sonshine
Auxly Cannabis Group Inc.

Mack Andrews
Aylmer Nelson Cannabis

Karen Barry
Beltline Cannabis

Annie Do
BRNT Design

Jesse Beaudry
Candre Cannabis

Travis Dahl
Cannabis & Hemp Innovation Centre

Dean Millard
Cannabis 101 Podcast

George Smitherman
Cannabis Council of Canada

Narbe Alexandrian
Canopy Rivers Inc.

Adina Rothenberg
Choklat Cannabis

Rachelle Dyer
Choom Cannabis

Sharron Longowal
Crown Cannabis

Dusty Covey
Draw It Right

Brandon Wright
Dynaleo Cannabis

Patrick Moher
Ethical Image

Trevor Fencott
Fire & Flower Inc.

Scott Sinclair
Freedom Cannabis

James Jesty
Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp

Garo Keresteci
Fuse Marketing

Chris Zimmerman
Glenora Cannabis

Lorena Mitchell
Grassroots Cannabis Inc.

Tina Northwest
Green Nation Naturals

Barinder Rasode
Grow Tech Labs

Matthew Hollingshead
Hifyre

Morgan Dakin & Jeff Callaway
High Ground Cannabis Inc.

Arun Modgil
Himalaya Cannabis

Daniel Welch
ICF Next

Dave Paterson
Indiva Life

Jeff Karren
Joi Botanicals

Eleanor Lynch
Kiaro Brands Inc.

Tim Raho
Made In Cannabis Inc.

Erik Soderstrom
Marsh Insurance

Deepak Anand
Material Ventures Inc.

Greg Turnbull
McCarthy Professional Corp

Lisa Kowalchuk
Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce

Fern Glowinsky
Merrco Payments Inc.

Jeff Heisler
Mjayz Cannabis Shop

Nathan Mison
National Cannabis Working Group

Dessy Pavlova
National Institute for Cannabis Health and Education

Daniel Nguyen
Numo Cannabis

Ryan Kaye
Ogen Cannabis

Daniel Safayeni
Ontario Chamber of Commerce & Ontario Cannabis Policy Council

Greg Engel
Organigram Inc.

Lindsay Blackett
Peakterra Inc.

Thomas Pigeon
Pigeon Brands

Terry Blumes
Rocky Mountain Extracts Co.

Jeremy Hrdlicka
Rosebud Cannabis Farms

Dawson MacKinnon
Running Leaf Corporation

Stephanie Mosher
Sensi Cann

Chris Felgate
Small Town Buds

Dipanjan Nandi
Spirit Leaf – McDougall Franchise

Cecil Horwitz
Spirit Leaf Corporate Office

Chris Ashley
Spirit Leaf – Bow Trail Franchise

Gerald Proctor
Sundial Cannabis

Mimi Lam
Superette Shop

Daniel Sutton
Tantalus Labs

Kiestyn Weber
The Green Exchange

Brian Athaide
The Green Organic Dutchman

Will Forseth
The Peak Cannabis Company

Adine Carter
Tilray

Keenan Pascal
Token Naturals

Ron Gautheir
Upryze Cannabis Ltd.

John Larsen
Valhalla Cannabis

Vianney Aubrecht
Velvet Management

Todd Pringle
Wabi Sabi Brands

Angelo Tsebelis
WeedMD

Stephanie Bunch
YSS Retailer

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