Pubdate: Tue, 17 May 2016
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2016 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://thestarphoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Alex MacPherson
Page: A1

REALTORS WANT REGISTRY OF GROW-OPS, METH LABS

Contamination in houses used to produce illegal drugs can easily be
overlooked during routine inspections, which is why the province needs
a comprehensive registry of former marijuana grow-ops and
methamphetamine labs, according to the Association of Saskatchewan
Realtors (ASR).

"The information's available (to police), and we think it should be
made available to our members and to potential buyers, so they're able
to make an informed decision when they look to buy a house," ASR CEO
Bill Madder said.

"If there is any potential damage, or at least if they know there has
been a grow-op there, they can have other inspections done that would
eliminate any or most of their concerns."

Madder said mouldy drywall and insulation - a result of
moisture-intensive growing practices - are the most common problems
plaguing former grow-ops. Damage from chemicals and jury-rigged
electrical systems are also possible, he added.

Under the current system, data relating to former grow-ops and meth
labs are held by the RCMP and municipal police forces, but no
comprehensive database is available to real estate agents or the
general public. It's not clear how many former grow-ops and meth labs
are scattered across the province, but Madder estimates that there are
at least 200, and likely more that have not been identified.

The ASR hopes to establish a working group of real estate agents,
police officers, and representatives from the provincial ministries of
health, justice and the department of building standards to discuss a
central database.

It remains unclear which organization would operate the database and
how much it would cost, but Madder said a government-led approach
would make sense and would not be a "costly venture."

"Our vision of it would be just a single site where a person could go
to find any un-remediated properties that have been identified," he
said.

Saskatoon police Insp. Lorne Constantinoff said while the city police
force does not have an opinion on civil matters such as real estate
transactions, there are privacy concerns surrounding the release of
data collected during criminal investigations.

"I imagine that it's something that would have to be legislated; it
would be something that would (have to) be required by the police to
provide this information, because it isn't something that we normally
provide," he said.

Police have no reason to release addresses to the general public for
commercial purposes, but legislation could make data about former
grow-ops and meth labs available to the public or, possibly, limited
to serious buyers, Constantinoff added.

A spokeswoman for the RCMP said the national police force does not
comment on matters, such as the real estate market, that are outside
its mandate.

In 2011, the RCMP launched its "marijuana grow initiative," which
included an online database of addresses where the force had
dismantled clandestine grow operations and production facilities.

However, the list has not been available for at least two
years.

Darcy McGovern, the Ministry of Justice's director of legislative
services, said while no province has a public registry of former drug
production facilities, Alberta's government has investigated a
database similar to the one the ASR is proposing.

"It's something that we want to see the results of before we get out
in front," McGovern said, adding that the work conducted in Alberta
could shed some light on how to best address the questions related
both to privacy and implementation.

The Ministry of Justice has encouraged the ASR to work with municipal
police forces and the RCMP on the project, but it's clear there are
many issues yet to be resolved, McGovern said.

"It's easier to say, 'Let's have a registry of these types of houses,'
and a lot trickier to operationalize."
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MAP posted-by: Matt