MLA'S SUPPORTIVE OF SCAN PLAN

NDP MLA Michael Sather has pledged his support for introduction of
SCAN legislation in order to try and prevent situations like
Northumberland Court on Fraser Street, a strata complex that has
become notorious for its crime and dilapidated state.

Meanwhile, Liberal MLA Marc Dalton said he's committed to exploring it
and is currently researching the legislation and having discussions
with ministers and mayors about it.

Sather and Dalton attended a forum Monday on SCAN (Safe Communities
and Neighbourhoods) legislation put on by the Maple Ridge Coalition of
Concern Citizens. SCAN legislation exists in Nova Scotia,
Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Yukon.

Under SCAN legislation citizens can make a complaint about activities
at a property that are affecting the safety and security of a
neighbourhood such as drug or prostitution activity. The province then
investigates the complaint and can take various actions, including
sending a warning letter to the property owner, attempting a
resolution of the situation or applying in court for a community
safety order.

Under a community safety order a judge can order a property to be
closed down for up to 90 days or a judge can terminate a problem
tenant's lease.

Sather said getting SCAN legislation introduced is a "nonpartisan
issue." He pointed out that an NDP MLA from Surrey tried to introduce
SCAN legislation in B.C. in 2008 through a private member's bill but
it didn't go anywhere.

"Sometimes (private members bills) do stimulate the government to come
forward with their own legislation so we're hoping for that in this
case," said Sather. "Clearly it's not going to be a cure all for all
the social ills that beset us: gang violence, drug addiction and
prostitution...but for intransigent situations like we've got down
there in Northumberland Court I think it could be of some
assistance."

Dalton said although he's still researching SCAN legislation and
hasn't decided to lobby for it yet he's in support of helping address
situations like Northumberland Court.

"It's been an ongoing concern what's happening in that area of town --
Northumberland Court. I applaud (the coalition) for standing up and
trying to do something. It's a serious situation...I want to do all I
can to help in that," said Dalton. "There's obviously already other
provinces' experiences we can glean from. I think at the end of the
day all can agree on both sides of the legislature that our goals are
for healthy, safe communities and the government is open to ideas
wherever they come from."

Northumberland Court, a strata complex, has been the scene of various
police drug busts and arrests for other criminal activity in recent
years. The District of Maple Ridge revoked majority owner Jack
Athwal's business licence to rent out units at the complex in April.
Brock McDonald, director of business licencing, permits and bylaws,
said at a public meeting he recommended the licence be revoked "as a
result of the poor management of his business that has resulted in
contraventions of the district's bylaws, contraventions of provincial
building and fire regulations, concerns for public safety, concerns
regarding the use and enjoyment of neighbouring properties and a high
demand for municipal and police services." The district is now in the
process of seeking a court injunction to prevent Athwal from
continuing to act as a landlord.

The district also ordered strata owners to complete a plethora of
repairs to bring units up to health, fire and safety standards. Jack
Athwal, who owns and rents out the majority of units at Northumberland
Court, has failed to meet a deadline for the repairs and the district
is now starting the work itself and will bill Athwal.

Sather said despite combined efforts from the police and fire
department and the District of Maple Ridge they haven't been able to
"eradicate the problem."

"I think there's some other tools that are required," said Sather.