The mayor of Kamloops is not buying what B.C.’s Finance minister is selling in terms of why the province has not being able to reach a cannabis taxation revenue sharing deal with local governments.

Ken Christian says it simply does not make any sense to not be able to reach a revenue sharing agreement because Carole James says at this point costs outweigh any profits.

“I think when you start up any business or retail regime, like we have done with recreational marijuana, your costs are going to be high at the beginning. That is just like setting up a coffee shop or a Pizza Hut. That I think is a pretty weak argument in terms of not deciding how to do the split.”

Christian says somehow the federal government reached a cannabis taxation revenue sharing deal last year with the provinces months before legalization when any revenues were a total mystery.

“The federal government have given the provinces 75% of the tax revenue and we want our share of that 75% because we are doing the work on the ground. I have asked for a meeting with Carole James at UBCM and I am quite happy to cancel it if we have an agreement between now and then.”

Christian admits there have been supply chain issues with legal cannabis and revenues are much lower than expected but that should not stand in the way of the province and local governments reaching a revenue sharing formula.

Statistics Canada data released on Tuesday showed Ottawa and the provincial governments made $186 million through various cannabis taxes.