Pubdate: Sat, 06 Feb 2010
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: Phil Melnychuk

MLA WON'T INTRODUCE SAFETY LEGISLATION

Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton won't be introducing a bill to 
bring Safe Community and Neighbourhoods legislation to B.C.

Dalton said last week he's not going to do that after agreeing last 
fall to review the legislation and even work with the NDP to see its 
possible introduction to B.C.

But Dalton now supports the position stated by Solicitor General Kash 
Heed in a letter to Maple Ridge council.

"The Civil Forfeiture Act (2005) gives government the ability to 
target the financial base of criminal activity," Heed wrote to 
council recently.

Dalton says he's not dropping the issue and planned to talk last week 
to Mayor Ernie Daykin about it.

But, "I'm not likely to be putting forward legislation independently."

Dalton said he'd call the director of civil forfeiture to see how the 
act can be used to target slums and drug houses.

"It seems that we have some of those tools," he said.

He also said he'd talk to Heed, adding there's a cost factor to 
introducing new legislation or a new program, just for the sake of doing so.

SCAN laws in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba improve community 
safety by targeting properties used for illegal activities such as 
drugs, gangs, and prostitution, and holding property owners 
accountable for what takes place on their property.

Coun. Craig Speirs said at a January council meeting that the 
legislation would give municipalities the ability to act on problem 
properties, and clean up the streets.

Council voted to send another letter to Heed asking for specifics of 
what the province plans to do to help municipalities deal with 
problem properties.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart