MISSION SUSPENDS CONTROVERSIAL MARIJUANA BYLAW

Emotions Run High Discussing Marijuana Grow Ops

The District of Mission has temporarily cut the power on a
controversial bylaw that has some Mission residents irate.

Mission district council voted Monday night to suspend the Control
Substance Property Bylaw for one month so it can be reviewed.

The bylaw, which was implemented to help find marijuana grow
operations, allows the city to inspect properties that are consuming
more than 93 kilowatts of electricity a day.

The controversy around the bylaw stems from folks who say they are
innocent victims of a policy that allows unwarranted inspections and
with fees of over $5,000.

An earlier motion made Monday by Coun. Jenny Stevens to suspend the
program indefinitely so it can be reviewed was originally defeated by
council members, much to the disappointment of the public in
attendance. However a proposal from Mayor James Atebe to temporarily
defer the bylaw for one month was approved.

Stevens told the Abbotsford-Mission Times Tuesday morning that she
was approached by Atebe later in the meeting to see if she would
support a motion to put the bylaw on hold for one month.

"In effect, [Atebe's] motion was better than mine," said Stevens.

"It did put the limit of a month, and that means that at one month,
council has to come back, reporting on the changes they're going to
make and the new bylaw or they have to give the public a progress
report and ask for my time.

"So that's better."

Referrals to Mission's Public Safety Inspection Team (PSIT), which
runs inspections, made by the RCMP will still continue, said Stevens.

Stevens originally motioned last week to have the bylaw rescinded
altogether, as folks have come forward with large inspection fees,
and what she referred to as "anecdotal" evidence that they have been
subject to embarrassment and suspicion from their neighbours because
of the inspections.

Emotions ran high at Monday's council meeting, as people, some
carrying signs that read 'PSIT = Gestapo,' packed the chambers, which
was so full, some members of the public were asked to sit outside in
the lobby as they watched.

Others angrily stormed out of the room. At one point, Atebe's
cultural heritage - he originally hails from Kenya - fell under attack.

The bylaw is now the subject of a massive class-action lawsuit.

Stacy Gowanlock, who was slapped with a $5,200 inspection fee after
his house was inspected in 2009, said before the meeting took place
that no matter what decision Mission council made in regards to the
bylaw, the lawsuit will continue.

"The damage is already done," he said, adding a draft of the lawsuit
has been written and is being reviewed by a team of lawyers.

"We have people that are losing their homes, having mortgages recalled,

thousands and thousands of dollars worth of repairs and at no time by
rescinding this bylaw do I want this council . . . or the District of
Mission, to think that this will all go away.

"We are fully prepared to see this right to the distance to get
justice for the people affected by it."