UNITED IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

The battle against drugs is a recurring theme for Mayor Clint Hames
and the five Chilliwack city councillors in Victoria this week at the
Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention.

"It's one of the themes for sure," Coun. Sharon Gaetz told the Times
via phone from the convention yesterday.

Resolutions looking at regulating the sale of products related to the
illegal drug trade, allowing regional districts to enact property
bylaw legislation, and extending a provincial crystal meth program,
were among the drug-related issues brought up at the convention.

One resolution that passed unanimously was to regulate drug
paraphernalia and the tools used to grow marijuana and make crystal meth.

So will your purchases from Minter Country Gardens be under increased scrutiny?

No, picking up fertilizer for your petunias won't be regulated,
according to Gaetz. The move is aimed at those who are "buying huge
quantities of grow lights" and other marijuana grow-related materials
such as Voodoo Juice, a product specifically designed for hydroponic
marijuana growing.

"This is one more tool to try to fight drugs in our community," Gaetz
said. "Is it the silver bullet? No."

Gaetz said that under section 59 of the community charter,
municipalities currently think they have the power to do this, but
they want this authority to be more clearly articulated. Another
resolution passed by delegates was one that would allow regional
districts to enact property bylaw legislation, which they currently
can't do. Currently municipalities can enact bylaws to track
excessive hydro consumption, but since regional districts can't, this
has the potential to lead regional districts to get dumped with the
grow-op problem.

Some other resolutions discussed:

Port Moody councillors brought forth a motion to extend municipal
terms from three to four years. This was narrowly defeated by around
30 votes with a standing vote in a room of around 400 delegates,
according to Gaetz. She voted against the extension of terms
suggesting that people's lives change too quickly these days.

Delegates were strongly behind a motion ensuring they retain the
power to set tax rates for different property classes. Gaetz said
that the UBCM have had "heated dialogues" with the province about
this issue as well as the red-tape-reducing issue of local
governments being removed from the process of power project approval.

Water protection and clean air quality were also discussed, but Gaetz
said she was comforted that Chilliwack has "looked ahead" and has
stringent bylaws regarding particulate matter from burning.

Public safety was on the agenda in a panel including local MLA John
Les with a particular focus on jail sentences for repeat and
dangerous offenders.

"We need to hear that dangerous offenders are having their activities
curtailed," Gaetz said.

For comic relief, Port Moody introduced a motion to reduce the age of
voting to 16. Gaetz, along with most delegates, did not endorse this motion.

"We know there is a lethargy in the voting system, but I don't think
the way to increase that is to lower the age," she said. "Do these
kids vote for their school board?"