GOV'T. SNOOPS START SNOOPING

If you are a crime and punishment kind of person, then you'll
probably hail the province's latest tool to bust grow-ops. If you're
a civil libertarian, then you'll shudder at the plan. Victoria has
amended the Safety Standards Act in an attempt to target and shut
down marijuana grow operations. Under the new regulations,
electricity companies will be required to give municipalities
information about residences with unusual power consumption, so local
authorities can target grow-op houses more efficiently.

"Grow-ops are more likely to catch fire, more likely to have guns
inside and are more likely to be robbed," said Rich Coleman, minister
responsible for housing. "They pose a danger to our neighbourhoods
and we're determined to shut them down."

Fair enough. But do we really need to snoop in people's personal
information to combat crime? Is it really necessary to have someone
keep an eye on your hydro bill to see if you are a possible criminal?
What's next, having Big Brother eyeball our credit card bills to see
if we're buying grow-op equipment, or maybe down at the sporting
goods store to see if we're buying a lot of ammunition. Why not just
come right in to our houses and snoop around to see if we're up to no
good?

There is validity to the argument that grow ops are a fire hazard
which, in turn, creates a risk for law abiding citizens.

The principle behind checking Hydro bills is the same as when
Victoria wanted to access to Costco records in order to snoop around
and find out who was avoiding the PST by shopping in Alberta. You'll
remember that plan backfired.

Grow-ops are indeed a huge problem, but what can we do? Tips from the
public remain the best source of information for police about
potential grow-ops. Here are several ways to identify possible grow
operations:

Entry to the home is usually through the garage or a back entrance to
conceal activity.

Windows are boarded or covered and may have a layer of condensation.

Equipment such as large fans, lights and plastic plant containers is
carried into the home.

Sounds of construction or electrical humming can be heard.

Strange odours (a skunk-like smell) emanate from the house.

The neighbourhood experiences localized surges or decreases in power.

We can all do our part, perhaps without infringing on our individual
rights.