SURREY REHAB HOMES PROBED

The recent crackdown on unlicensed and unzoned drug and alcohol
recovery homes in Surrey is not aimed at shutting down every recovery
house. So says Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, who said the city's actions
are no different than any other bylaw infraction.

"All we've done is respond to complaints. We are not taking actions
against all houses," said Watts. "We get complaints about houses with
30 people... it's like any infraction. Our bylaw officers
(investigate)."

The city wants to help unlicensed houses through the regulation
process, which can be quite tedious, said Watts. "What we want them to
do is comply, and we'll want to help them through the process. We
don't want to shut all of them down. They provide a valuable service."

With the help of Surrey, the provincial government is establishing a
task force to examine how recovery houses work.