NO SHELTER FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

The provincial government has introduced tough legislation to shut down
buildings used for drug dealing, prostitution and other criminal activities.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, introduced in the legislature
Tuesday, calls for the investigation and shutting down of buildings
suspected of being home to prostitution, illegal drug grow operations and
sales, child sexual abuse, solvent abuse, and illegal sale and use of alcohol.

The law will be welcome in North Central Regina, said Barry Dundas,
community co-ordinator for North Central Community Society, which works
with the Regina Police Service on crime-prevention programs.

"It's been like that for a lot of years in North Central," Dundas said. "I
know the Regina Police Service gets a lot of complaints about all kinds of
traffic coming to a house at different times of the day and they're only
there for a few minutes then leaving. If it can be deemed that they are
doing illegal activity in there and they can shut the house down, then I
think that's great."

Regina Police Chief Cal Johnston said at present there is no clear process
to shut down a house where illegal activity is taking place.

"What we lacked was an ability to deal with the use of that property and
the way it lent itself to that criminal behaviour. This act gives us that
now," said Johnston.

The act will create the new office of the Director of Community Operations.
Citizens will be able to make confidential complaints about a suspected
building to the director. Four investigators -- two in Regina and two in
Saskatoon -- will be employed to look into complaints.

The act is modelled after similar legislation in Manitoba. Justice Minister
Frank Quennell visited Winnipeg during preparation of the legislation.

"The Criminal Code and the criminal law is useful where you have proof of a
crime beyond a reasonable doubt. There has been perceived to be (a gap in
legislation) in some jurisdictions ... and we perceive a gap here and we
intend to fill it," said Quennell.

Following investigation, the property owner or landlord will be made aware
of the situation. Quennell said this will often be enough for the activity
to cease. If illegal activity continues, the director can pursue a court
order to shut down the residence for 90 days or permanently. If there is
evidence of criminal activity, the local police service will be involved.

"The experience in Manitoba is that it is more often resolved by the
landlord than it is resolved by a court order," said Quennell.

The act also makes provisions for fortified buildings, where materials such
as bulletproof glass, steel doors, and bars on windows and doors are
present. These buildings may raise public safety concerns if the materials
are used in excess.

Allan Kerpan, corrections and public safety critic for the opposition, said
the legislation seems to be on the right track in theory. By creating an
office for investigations, complaints won't get lost in the system.

"Any government's first, highest priority has to be to protect the people
and the persons and the property of the province. And it looks like this
might do that," said Kerpan.

The duties of the director of community operations will fall to the
executive director of law enforcement for the Department of Justice. The
program is expected to cost $346,000 a year. Quennell said he plans to have
the bill passed during this legislative session and come into effect Oct. 1.