METH TASK FORCE TALKS MORE POWER FOR MUNICIPALITIES

After a two-month hiatus due to summer vacation schedules, the Perth County
Crystal Meth task force met August 17, with a focus on new legislation that
could provide recourse for property owners and municipalities dealing with
the remains of meth labs.

Perth Middlesex MPP John Wilkinson, Crown Attorney Denis Harrison and
Federal Crown Prosecutor John Sipos were on hand to discuss Bill 128, which
amends various acts in respect to enforcement powers, penalties and
forfeited properties in regard to organized crime, marijuana grow-ops and
other unlawful activities.

The bill, which was passed in December 2005 but was proclaimed at the start
of August, doubles maximum penalties under building and fire codes, as well
as permitting the profits from the sale of seized assets to go toward crime
prevention efforts.

Wilkinson explained that Bill 128 could be used for crystal meth labs as it
says "'marijuana growing and other activities,' -- the act deals
specifically with marijuana grow-ups, but there is some space." Harrison
challenged this however, by saying that "there is no sophistication to meth
labs...there aren't really assets to seize." Harrison also referred to the
portability of meth labs. "As for stopping criminal activity, I don't think
that it (the legislation) will help."

The new law does, however, expand the powers that municipalities have in
dealing with former meth lab and grow-op properties. After completing their
investigation of a property, police must now tell the municipality that it
was a lab or grow-op, and the municipality must inspect the property for
fire, electricity and building code infractions.

The cleanup for an active lab falls to Health Canada, but there was debate
over who is responsible, both physically and financially, for the cleanup
of inactive labs. Stratford mayor and Task Force co-chair Dan Mathieson
suggested that the cleanup costs be added to property taxes, and clauses
put in place to limit the sale of the property until it is paid off. "The
municipality can't get stuck with the cost," he reinforced, noting that
property owners do have civil remedies in this situation.

Medical officer of health and Task Force co-chair Rosana Pellizzari
commented that "We have to find a solution to this...so that these hazards
can get resolved -- we don't have the solution today."

The Task Force was encouraged to hear, however, that the public is becoming
aware of these types of issues, as the Perth District Health Unit's Health
Line has received calls about buying a house which was once a grow-op. As
well, the Task Force is working with local real estate agents to figure out
a practical way to keep track of properties that have been affected by drug
production.

Other issues

The Task Force is still working on a resolution to present to the
Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). Ed Hollinger, mayor of
North Perth, said that they missed the Association's annual conference (as
it was held August 13 to 16), but they can instead send it to Perth County,
Stratford and St. Marys Councils for ratifying when they resume their
regular schedules in September, then pass on to the AMO for adoption.

The resolution requests the Province to support the Task Force's concerns
on training and equipment for first responders, community education,
stronger penalties and police enforcement and treatment for users. The AMO
is comprised of 400 of 445 municipalities in Ontario.

The Provincial Task Force, of which Pellizzari is a member, is still
finalizing their report, according to John Wilkinson. He explained that the
report was initially intended for the Minister of Community Safety and
Correctional Services, but that in reality, "an entire governmental
response is needed," including ministries such as Health and Long-Term Care
and Children and Youth. The report is expected to be completed in late
September, and then get cabinet approval.

The last major point of interest at the meeting were the results from a
recent Health Unit telephone survey of 598 adults in the county. A full
two-thirds of respondents believed that crystal meth was the most-abused
drug in the county, while only 12 per cent thought "other" substances --
which includes tobacco. "It shows the awareness and alarm that's in the
community," said Pellizzari. "It reinforces the perception that crystal
meth is out there," to the point that over one-third of respondents
believed they would recognize someone who was high on the drug.

The next county Task Force meeting is scheduled for September 21.