Pubdate: Thu, 28 Apr 2005
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Mission City Record
Contact:  http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305
Author: James Baxter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

BYLAW SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO GROWERS

Mission's police inspector says he welcomes adoption of bylaw 3772, which 
allows the district to recoup police and remediation costs from owners of 
residences busted as grow operations.

RCMP Insp. Pat Walsh said although the bylaw, adopted April 18, has no 
bearing on the criminal prosecution of grow-ops, it does send "a clear and 
united message to growers that this municipality, this community doesn't 
want you here."

"This is a cost recovery mechanism for the extra costs incurred by the 
municipality as a result of the criminality and irresponsibility of some 
people," he explained. "It sends one more message to those who choose to be 
irresponsible."

There is not a landlord in this province who's not aware of the problem of 
grow operations. Landlords have a responsibility to inspect their property 
and ensure it is free from this type of problem, he added.

Walsh said Mission RCMP respond to about 200 grow-op reports each year. 
That puts the squeeze on staffing resources and results in expensive 
overtime costs, he said.

"Obviously the grow-op problem has become so large, at least in this 
community, that we don't have the staffing resources to deal with it," he 
noted.

The bylaw also puts property owners on the hook for clean-up costs.

According to the bylaw, remediation measures can include securing or 
guarding the property from unauthorized entry; disposal of controlled 
substances and associated material and apparatus; disconnection of potable 
water supply, electricity and natural gas; and necessary repairs, including 
the hiring of tradespeople.

District of Mission Councillor Ron Taylor said the bylaw will pose "some 
fairly significant penalties on the owner."

"If the owner finds out that he has a tenant who is conducting a grow 
operation and tells the police, then we don't hold him responsible for all 
these other costs," he explained. "But if he doesn't - and some 
intentionally don't - then he is going to be signing a fairly large cheque."

Cost recovery incurred under the bylaw is in addition to any fines or 
criminal charges laid as a result of the illegal activity, Taylor noted, 
adding some caution was needed while drafting 3772 to ensure the 
municipality did not "stray beyond the powers that [we] have."

"People are letting out properties, not supervising them, and I guess the 
conclusion we came to was ... the idea that grow-ops are some harmless 
little agriculture hobby, those days are gone."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom