Pubdate: Sun, 26 Jun 2005
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Marshall Jones
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CITY HALL LOOKING AT NEW TACTICS

Kelowna City Hall is looking at some innovative new methods to bust 
marijuana home grow operations that have been successful in Surrey and 
Abbotsford.

The City of Kelowna is preparing to go where police often can't-inside the 
homes of marijuana growers.

City hall is taking a close look at two pilot projects employed in Surrey 
and Abbotsford that are showing tremendous success in getting rid of grow 
operations.

Stephen Fleming, deputy city clerk, says Kelowna will definitely adopt a 
new strategy for dealing with grow operations and he expects it soon.

We are watching both projects and trying to determine what the province is 
going to do, if they will make it province-wide," he says. We have looked 
at it internally to see what is the best model out there."

The pilot projects are supported by the province, leading Fleming and 
others to believe a one-size-fits-all approach might be brought in around 
the province.

But Fleming says if that appears to be a far-off decision for the province, 
Kelowna will move ahead on its own.

In Surrey, a team of five firefighters and inspectors have pushed out 118 
grow operations in three months, compared to 75 grow operations shut down 
by the RCMP's seven-member team.

The fire department is using tips from police and the public, as well as 
records searches of B.C. Hydro and other agencies to guesstimate the 
likelihood of a grow operation in a home.

Unburdened by a need for search warrants and the police need for reasonable 
and probable grounds, the firefighters simply post notices on the doors 
demanding the right of access within 48 hours for safety and electrical 
inspections.

Nearly without fail, the grow ops were cleaned out before they returned.

Abbotsford is trying a different approach, with a little less success.

That city dismantled 12 grow ops in its first month.

Abbotsford uses the B.C. Building Code and the Fire Services Act to demand 
inspections and heaps more responsibilities onto the backs of property owners.

Any work required to bring the home back up to code is charged to the 
homeowner.

Coun. Ron Cannan raised the issue before council because of the safety 
hazards from tampering with power lines and the damage to rental homes. The 
problem is on-going but we are at a point where people are so frustrated," 
Cannan says.

I know diligent property owners who had entire homes lost to grow ops."

He also sees it as a city responsibility to protect its own employees, 
namely firefighters.

He plans to raise the issue again in council chambers on Monday.

Firefighters face numerous risks fighting fires in grow op homes, from 
faulty electrical systems to booby traps.

Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon says he has had discussions with the 
Kelowna Fire Department chiefs about safety for their firefighters.

We see so many of these grow ops or potential meth labs and the dangers 
associated with both," he says.

I would feel horrible if we had information on a grow operation and a 
firefighter was ever injured because they didn't have that knowledge."

He says firefighters and inspectors don't have the same legal hoops to jump 
through and they may be able to dismantle the operations, but he sees a 
greater role for police to be able to charge people.

I think the best practices are that we partner together with those agencies 
to work together to solve the problem," McKinnon says. I don't know if it 
will ever be completely gone but we can make a difference."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom