Pubdate: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Alan Findlay and Antonella Artuso LIBERALS EYE SAFETY OF FORMER GROW OPS TORONTO -- Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman is vowing to look into health issues surrounding homes that once housed marijuana grow operations. Many of those homes are later resold to unsuspecting buyers who face significant health and safety hazards ranging from mouldy walls to unstable structures. "That's an issue that (Community Safety) Minister (Monte) Kwinter has the lead on, but I'm happy to take the health-related aspect issue of that up and deal with him directly on it," Smitherman said. According to a Ministry of Health spokesman, most moulds do not produce any reaction. The Health Protection and Promotion Act protects the public from environmental hazards. Kwinter said the real estate industry is looking at making it mandatory to disclose to potential buyers if a dwelling has been used as a grow op. Under the Real Estate Act, the onus is on the real estate broker to disclose negative facts, he said. Proposed legislation introduced by Kwinter earlier this fall will also mandate inspections of buildings identified as a pot house by police. 'UP TO MUNICIPALITIES' Municipal Affairs and Housing official James Douglas said the legislation will provide municipalities with the tools to enforce such cleanups. "It's really up to municipalities to enforce," said Douglas. Maximum fines for building without a permit will double under the legislation. Individuals will face fines of up to $50,000 for a first offence and twice that for subsequent offences. Corporations would face fines as high as $100,000 for a first offence and $200,000 after that. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek