Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jun 2002 Source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Kitchener-Waterloo Record Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Author: Frances Barrick DIVULGE POT HOUSES' HISTORY TO BUYERS: MP WATERLOO REGION -- Calling it a public health issue, a Liberal MP is pushing for mandatory disclosure of homes used to grow marijuana before they are sold to unsuspecting buyers. "I think it would be irresponsible to sell these homes with these health hazards," said Dan McTeague, the Liberal MP for Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge. "Disclosure has to be absolute," he said in a telephone interview from Ottawa. While home pot operations have proliferated in Waterloo region as well as in Durham region, which falls within McTeague's riding, McTeague says his first job is to educate the public about the health hazards related to these pot operations. The highly toxic chemicals used to grow the plants impregnate the walls and floors, and the high levels of humidity caused by the high-voltage lamps create mould and mildew in the walls, which could be deadly for people with respiratory problems. 6 Local Houses Seized Locally, a number of grow homes have already been sold without the new owners knowing the property's history. In fact, the federal Department of Public Works is currently overseeing the sale of six local homes which have been seized by the courts under the federal proceeds-of-crime legislation. The properties are worth about $1.25 million. The money from the sale of the properties will go into federal government coffers until the criminal charges are dealt with. If the accused are convicted, the federal government keeps the money. But if the accused are acquitted, they get the money. Monique Boivin, Public Works spokeswoman, said the history and addresses of these homes will not be publicly disclosed for fear it could decrease property values. That, McTeague said, is wrong. "You can't put a question of money in front of public safety," he said. Kitchener Centre MP Karen Redman agrees. "The biggest issue has to be the protection of the public. So I would come down on the side of public interest." No federal or provincial laws force realtors to disclose that a home had been used to grow marijuana, something McTeague wants changed. Levi Brubacher, who inadvertently bought a former pot-growing site in Kitchener last January, agrees with McTeague. "I think it is something that definitely should happen," Brubacher said. Make It Mandatory McTeague wants the Ontario Real Estate Act amended to make it mandatory for realtors to disclose this information to potential buyers and he wants the information registered on the property's land title. He also wants mandatory inspections of the homes by health and building officials before they are put on the market. If they don't pass the inspections, the homes should be demolished, he said. Federally, he wants it to be mandatory for the RCMP, which conducts many of the police raids on these homes, to inform the Public Works Department about the homes' history. Officials with Public Works would then be forced to relay this information to real estate agents, he said. McTeague has written the ministers overseeing these various provincial and federal departments, but has not yet received any replies to his request. His next move, he said, is to raise the issue in the House of Commons. Not Holding Out Hope Chris Eby, spokesman for Tim Hudak, provincial minister of Consumer and Business Services, said the minister hasn't yet received McTeague's letter dated May 23. But Eby doesn't hold out much hope that the legislation will be changed to make it mandatory for realtors to disclose this information. "It is not on our radar screen at this time," Eby said of the issue. Eby didn't know about the health concerns associated with grow homes. "What could be in these homes that could cause a problem?" he asked a reporter. "From our perspective, this is an issue that is not crying out for attention." - --- MAP posted-by: Alex