OPPOSITION FILIBUSTER SCUTTLES BILL TARGETING HIGH-CRIME RESIDENCES

NDP, Tory MPPs Run Out Clock at Committee Hearing

A private member's bill by Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi aimed at
helping neighbourhoods get rid of crack houses and other high crime
residences was effectively killed Wednesday by opposition politicians.

New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo, whose downtown Toronto riding of
ParkdaleHigh Park contains some of the poorest sections of the city,
filibustered the legislation at a committee hearing.

DiNovo and two Conservative MPPs ran out the clock by suggesting
amendments to the legislation in an intentional bid to scuttle the bill.

"Her concern is the legislation would essentially be used to evict
tenants. I disagree," Naqvi said. "The only people it targets is
people who use their houses to sell drugs. We're trying to get rid
drug pushers."

The move effectively kills the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods
Act (SCAN). The legislature will prorogue in early December, wiping
out any unpassed legislation.

"I'm very disappointed," said Naqvi, who began working on the
legislation after he was approached by residents of Hintonburg. "My
community has worked very hard to make sure this became law."

The legislation would have given courts the power to temporarily
close a property for up to 90 days. Similar laws have been passed in
Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Nova Scotia
and Alberta.

"We know drug dealers don't operate out of homes in Rockcliffe,"
Naqvi said. "My point is (that) being poor doesn't mean you also have
to be subjected to criminal activity."

DiNovo said she believed the legislation would give residents a way
to "rat out" neighbours without having to face them in court.

"It's draconic, it's NIMBYism," she said. "The answer to criminal
activity is not homelessness, it's not throwing people out into the street."

Ottawa Police Chief Vern White was unhappy to hear the news.

"I am disappointed, to say the least, as I saw this legislation as a
real move forward to deal with some of the problems we were facing,"
White said. " The provinces that have implemented this legislation
have seen positive results by far."