Council for the RM of Hanover has taken a position on whether or not to allow retail cannabis stores to be established in the municipality. But Chief Administrative Officer Luc Lahaie says their decision is neither Yes, nor No.

At the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual convention last month, the Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade stated that the government would survey AMM to ask if municipalities would take part in the province's strategy on retail cannabis stores. Municipalities were given until Friday noon to respond.

Lahaie says Hanover checked off neither box but has instead listed a third option. That third option reads as follows:

Hanover, and several surrounding municipal councils have instructed their administration to seek additional information as to any changes needed in our zoning bylaws to ensure that our communities continue to be safe. Our council will also be working towards a regionally consistent response with our neighbours such as Steinbach, La Broquerie, Niverville and Ste. Anne.

In its submission, Hanover stated that because its response is not binding, it can change its position at a later date.

"At this time, council doesn't want to look at a plebiscite or a referendum," notes Lahaie. "They felt that sometimes these votes do divide a community or a municipality so they are going to stay away from that at this time."