A PADLOCK ON CRIME

Crackhouses target of new plan: MPP

Crime-busting MPP Jim Brown says the province will unveil a plan this fall
to padlock known crackhouses.

Brown said yesterday the provincial government is working out legal
criteria for the swift shutdown of establishments where people are charged
with selling cocaine.

He said later the plan could be unveiled by November with a draft bill next
spring.

He added it involves court injunctions to padlock such premises "from three
to seven days from the time you go to court."

Brown admitted government lawyers are concerned about constitutional
issues: "There would have to be some evidence of illegal activity.

"In other jurisdictions, if the landlord is not cooperating, they take the
building," Brown said after a lunch speech outlining the plan to the
Kingsway Kiwanis.

Brown, co-chairman of the Ontario Crime Control Commission, was warmly
received by the Kiwanis members -- but they also had some tough questions
about youth crime.

Brown talked about "creative solutions" in the absence of federal action on
the "namby-pamby" Young Offenders' Act, and "tough love" for errant teens
and their parents.

Kiwanis president Barnaby Jones said he and his wife were recently spat
upon by two panhandlers, and he asked Brown for action.

Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman has said panhandling is a federal issue, Brown
noted. But he stressed the province still wants to give police new tools to
deal with panhandlers and "squeegee people."

Brown called for Manitoba-style citizens' courts for minor offences, a safe
schools act and an act requiring parents to pay up to $6,000 for property
damaged by their kids.

Bob Horner, former chairman of Ottawa's justice committee, said 80% of
Canada's 62,000 inmates were abused as children. "It's a Band-Aid solution
unless you get to the root causes" such as poverty, Horner said.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan