Former health minister Lake joins Quebec-based pot manufacturer

“With legalization of recreational marijuana coming to Canada next year, this company will be well-positioned to be a supplier to the recreational market as well,” said Lake. “It’s a great opportunity to put a public health lens on something that’s a huge public policy shift in Canada.”

Lake will be the company’s Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, and says public policy around cannabis use became an interest of his while he served as B.C.’s health minister.

“Over the last few years, I’ve become particularly interested in this field, knowing that the federal government was looking at the legalization of recreational cannabis, and of course the medical program has been important for many Canadians for a number of years,” said Lake.

“There is great potential, I think, to ensure that the safety of Canadians, particularly young Canadians, is assured through the proper rollout of policy in the area of cannabis in Canada.”

“My primary role will be to assure governments and the general public, as well as stakeholders like medical associations across the country, that Hydropothecary Corporation has the highest ethical, environmental and public health standards, that the business practices of the company will give Canadians confidence, and that the product and the service the company provides will uphold those standards.”

The Trudeau government is expected to introduce legislation legalizing and regulating pot use next spring.

“This is the biggest public policy change we’ve seen in Canada, probably ever,” said Lake. “To be on the forefront of that is very exciting to me from a public policy perspective, but also ensuring the public safety, to make sure that this corporation is seen as one of the top corporations in what is a very new field in Canada.”

Lake did not run in the 2017 B.C. election.

He was elected to represent Kamloops-North Thompson for the B.C. Liberals in 2009 and 2013.

Lake was Kamloops’ mayor from 2005 to 2008 and maintains a home in the downtown with his wife, Lisa.

He says he is prepared to rack up some time in the air over the coming years, but Kamloops will remain home base.

“The company is headquartered in Gatineau, Quebec. That’s where their production facilities and head office is. I’ll be travelling probably extensively across the country. Kamloops is our home, so we’ll maintain our residence here. My family will still be here and I’ll be chalking up a lot of flights across the country.”

by James Peters

Former health minister Lake joins Quebec-based pot manufacturer

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