NO CHANGES WILL BE MADE TO LAW

A provincial law aimed at helping communities shut down drug houses
and brothels is working properly and won't be changed, said Justice
Minister Frank Quennell a day after a Court of Queen's Bench judge
rejected the province's request to evict a Regina family in the first
court case under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act.

Justice Janet McMurtry ruled there was little evidence that showed
that the teenagers who live in the home, which is owned by two
sisters, were smoking and selling marijuana, as alleged by government
investigators.

Quennell told reporters that most cases that have occurred since the
act came into effect in 2004 have been settled informally with
landlords or occupants.

"That can't always be done, clearly, in the case of an owner-occupied
residence where there are issues. That was the case here ... This is
what courts are for. And as we go along, as courts interpret the
legislation, prosecutors and investigators will have a better idea of
the quality of information needed in order to obtain a community
safety order," he said outside a meeting of the provincial cabinet in
Yorkton.

"This case doesn't cause me any concern. There will be other
applications and other cases and some of them I imagine will be
successful and some will be unsuccessful."

Under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, citizens can make
complaints to the Director of Community Operations with the Department
of Justice if they believe a house is being used for illegal activity,
such as drug use or sale. The director could then have an investigator
look into the complaint. Information compiled must then be taken to a
judge to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to shut down the
house.

Quennell said the department will review the case to see whether
investigators have to raise the bar for evidence used under the act.