Minutes (Appointed) - Cannabis Retail Review Task Force - 20260219
Town of Aurora
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Thursday, February 19, 2026
7 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor John Gallo (Chair)
Councillor Ron Weese (Vice Chair)
Nikki Alber
Megan Bamford*
Judy Collins*
Lenard Lind
William Newton, York Regional Police Representative
Laura Schaffer*
Ian Smith
Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Andrew Poray, Manager, Economic Development*
Ashmeed Khan, Bylaw Enforcement/Licensing Officer
Patricia De Sario, Deputy Clerk
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Deputy Clerk called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
The Deputy Clerk passed the chair to Councillor Gallo at 7:02 p.m. following the
appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair.
1.1 Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair
Moved by Nikki Alber
Seconded by Lenard Lind
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2026 2
1. That Councillor John Gallo be appointed as Chair of the Cannabis
Retail Review Task Force; and
2. That Councillor Ron Weese be appointed as Vice Chair of the Cannabis
Retail Review Task Force.
Carried
2. Land Acknowledgement
The Task Force acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands,
the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island,
recognizing the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day,
the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this
territory, and that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these
lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Nikki Alber
Seconded by Lenard Lind
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Carried
4. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50.
5. Receipt of the Minutes
None.
6. Delegations
6.1 Patricia De Sario, Director, Corporate Services/Town Solicitor, Deputy Clerk;
Re: Orientation
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2026 3
Patricia De Sario provided a brief orientation highlighting the role of the
Task Force, including its members and staff, and the procedures that
govern meetings, including the Terms of Reference for the Task Force and
the Town’s Procedure By-law.
Moved by Lenard Lind
Seconded by Nikki Alber
That the comments of the delegation be received for information.
Carried
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Terms of Reference for the Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
The Task Force and staff had no comments.
Moved by William Newton
Seconded by Nikki Alber
1. That the Terms of Reference for the Cannabis Retail Review Task
Force be received for information.
Carried
7.2 Member Motion - Councillor Gallo; Re: Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
Councillor Gallo provided background and proposed priorities for the Task
Force toward developing practical recommendations to Council by setting
clear expectations, establishing a structured work plan, requesting
baseline data from staff and the York Regional Police, assessing local
impacts, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
The Task Force inquired about various aspects including access to any
letters of opposition to specific locations and responses or feedback;
clarification on zoning for cannabis retail stores; the scope of engagement
with other communities and their best practices; data to be obtained from
the York Regional Police; and the possibility to gain more recent feedback
from the community on its perception and experiences of cannabis retail
stores.
Moved by Lenard Lind
Seconded by Nikki Alber
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2026 4
1. That the Member Motion - Councillor Gallo; Re: Cannabis Retail Review
Task Force be received; and
2. That the Cannabis Retail Review Task Force comments regarding
Member Motion - Councillor Gallo; Re: Cannabis Retail Review Task
Force be received and referred to staff for consideration and further
action as appropriate.
Carried
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
The Task Force further inquired about the information to be collected, and the
possibility for members to receive the collected data in advance of the published
agenda to allow sufficient review time, including location requirements for
opening cannabis retail stores and review of the appropriateness of existing
locations; business occupancy trends including closures and reasons; data on
the number of rejected applications and cancelled licences; the frequency of
compliance inspections; and the possibility to implement a code of conduct.
The Task Force provided clarification on the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming
Commission of Ontario) oversight of the cannabis industry, including evaluations
and licence approvals, compliance inspections, and compliance investigations.
Staff and the York Regional Police representative agreed to collect and provide
the required information for review at the April 16, 2026 Task Force meeting.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Judy Collins
Seconded by Megan Bamford
That the meeting be adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Carried