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Ontario is ditching plans for government-run cannabis outlets in favour of letting private businesses run the shops.

The last-minute switch means people in Ontario won’t be able to shop in any stores at all when recreational marijuana becomes legal across the country on Oct. 17.

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The government aims to have private stores running by April 1, 2019, which leaves time for wide consultations about the new system, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said Monday.

However, cannabis will be sold online for home delivery on Day 1, Fedeli promised.

The Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp., the subsidiary of the LCBO set up by the previous Liberal government, will still act as a wholesaler and be responsible for online sales.

But the plan to set up Ontario Cannabis Stores — four locations had been identified — has been scrapped in favour of privately-run stores.

Fedeli threw another wrinkle into the province’s pot plans by announcing that municipalities will be given a one-time chance to opt out of having cannabis stores in their jurisdictions. A spokesman for the City of Ottawa said it’s too soon to comment on this development, and the city will wait to see the new legislation.