Pubdate: Wed, 20 Oct 2004
Source: Metro (CN ON)
Section: Front page
Copyright: 2004 Metro
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3462
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Note: from Torstar News Service

GROW-OPS TARGETED

Province Moves To Toughen Hydro Legislation

Within hours of police dismantling another indoor marijuana grow operation 
in Scarborough, Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter announced steps to 
"control" their proliferation.

Kwinter said the proposed legislation would allow electrical distributors 
to cut hydro to homes suspected of growing pot without notice, "in 
accordance with a court order or for emergency, safety or 
system-reliability reasons."

Police officials applauded the move to stem what Toronto police Chief 
Julian Fantino yesterday called an "epidemic" of grow-ops. Toronto police 
have dismantled 248 indoor grow operations this year.

But one opposition critic said the proposed legislation is "shallow" and 
accused the government of misleadingly selling it as something that could 
actually help eliminate illegal grow-ops. "This will not eradicate 
grow-ops, not as long as there is a market and huge profits to be made," 
MPP Peter Kormos (NDP, Niagara Centre) said after Kwinter introduced the 
legislation.

The new legislation doesn't give local utilities any new powers, but 
enshrines into statute what already exists in the Fire Protection and 
Prevention Act. An official at Hydro One confirmed utilities have the 
authority to pull the plug for a variety of reasons, such as non-payment 
and suspected theft of power.

Kwinter said the new law will also require building inspections of all 
homes, after police have confirmed a grow-op, and order repairs which would 
"protect people from purchasing a property that would require thousands of 
dollars of repairs."

The bill also doubles maximum penalties for things such as tampering with 
wiring, which can cause excessive heating and possibly lead to a fire, and 
establishes an account so that proceeds of seized assets from grow-ops, 
such as real estate and cars, are earmarked for enforcement and victim 
compensation.

Torstar News Service
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