DOUBLE HIT FOR GROW-HOUSE OWNERS?

The city has planted the seed that could lead to efforts to hit the
owners of properties used as grow houses for costs associated with
busting the operations.

The city's legal department has determined that the Ontario Municipal
Act provides the city with the power needed to cover enforcement costs
involved in busting marijuana growing operations.

Councillor Doug Holyday expressed concern that the legal opinion could
lead to the city going after homeowners who have been duped by
marijuana cultivators.

"They've probably already suffered enough if they've rented their
house out and thought they rented it out to a nice family. I think
these people are quite good at probably pulling that deception,"
Holyday said.

A landlord whose house is used by pot growers must deal with property
damage and watch the value of their dwelling fall, he said.

"Then to come along and find the city wanted to ding you on top of
that -- it seems we're getting the wrong person," Holyday added.

Landlord Responsibility

A proponent of recovering the grow-op enforcement costs, Councillor
Michael Thompson said landlords have a responsibility to know what's
going on in their dwellings.

He said taxpayers face "extensive costs" for grow-op investigations as
personnel from the fire department, Toronto Hydro and the city are
called on to play a role.

Councillors on the city's administration committee will consider next
Tuesday whether they want to keep the issue alive by directing civic
officials to identify the enforcement costs "specifically incurred"
with grow-house investigations.

If they want the information, a final decision about whether to go
after the owners of those dwellings will be made at a later date.