BILL WOULD FORCE LANDLORDS TO EVICT SUSPECTED CRIMINALS

A Calgary MLA plans to introduce a private member's bill that,
without using the Criminal Code, would force landlords to evict
tenants from homes where drug use or prostitution is alleged.

Calgary Hays MLA Art Johnston, who hopes to introduce the bill during
the upcoming spring session, said the legislation would let
communities rid themselves of unwanted elements without relying on
the police -- who often lack the resources to deal with the problems.
It would also send a message to those involved in illegal activities
that Alberta won't tolerate what they're doing and won't wait to act
on it, Johnston said.

"You won't rest as long as you're involved in activities that have an
adverse affect in the community," he said.

Entitled the Safe Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, the bill is
modelled after similar legislation in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It
already received unanimous approval to move forward from a
Progressive Conservative caucus committee Monday.

Here's how it would work: a neighbour would call a telephone line --
not the police -- to complain about activities in a home, ranging
from drug use to prostitution to gangs. That telephone call would be
answered by peace officers, who Johnston hopes would work under the
Solicitor General's Department.

Those officers, without getting warrants, would then conduct
surveillance on the home in question. That would make sure the call
actually had some substance to it and wasn't simply from an angry
neighbour, Johnston said. The peace officers would monitor the home, he said.

The peace officers would then bring the surveillance data to a
decision-maker, who, if it's deemed the complaint is accurate, would
order the landlord to try to stop the activities. If the problem
persists, the landlord would be forced to evict the tenant within 14
days of a notice being served.

The complaint wouldn't need as high a standard of proof as it would
for police because the legislation wouldn't be under the criminal code.

The "problem tenant" could appeal the order to Court of Queen's Bench.