CITY WELCOMES NEW TOOL IN GROW-OP BATTLE

City bylaw enforcement officers hope easy access to residential B.C.
Hydro bills will make marijuana grow operations easier to find.

But civil liberties proponents see it as an infringement on
privacy.

Solicitor General John Les recently tabled a law that if passed would
allow municipalities to look at a property's power consumption. The
move would bolster public safety by reducing explosions and fires from
grow-ops.

The city is still waiting to learn more about the legislation, but so
far it looks positive to Randy Churchill, Nanaimo bylaw services manager.

"I think any time you have an additional tool to remove grow ops from
our community it's a good thing," Churchill said.

Grow-ops are a big headache for the bylaw department, with between 50
and 70 uncovered annually in Nanaimo.

Besides bankrolling organized crime in the millions annually, grow-ops
are prone to fires, electrical hazards and health concerns from mould.

Which is why Leonard Krog, the NDP Nanaimo MLA, is backing the Liberal
initiative.

"It is about public safety - that is the thrust of the legislation,"
Krog said.

"There are some concerns around privacy and civil liberties, and
obviously as I have a chance to look at the bill more closely we'll
canvass the minister on it."

Murray Mollard, B.C. Civil Liberties Union executive director, says it
tramples privacy rights.

"A lot of people might have legitimate reasons for high consumption
patterns," Mollard said. "They might have a sauna or a hot tub, or
they might have a hothouse for growing plants or vegetables."

Mollard said by some estimates police currently fail to find grow-ops
in 10 per cent of the homes they investigate and that will get worse
with full access to energy bills.

He questions the safety enhancement aspect of the legislation, saying
more explosions could result from pot growers switching to other, more
dangerous energy sources, such as propane.

"This is just going to drive up the profit margin," Mollard
said.

"Canadians are a little bit tired of this criminal law of drugs
(former attorney general) Rich Coleman is so fond of. It's a losing
war. Canadians are recognize marijuana isn't as harmful as many legal
drugs."