NEW TOOL FOR CITIES TO BUST GROW-OPS

BC Hydro will be required to give municipal governments information
about residences with unusual power consumption after new
legislation announced by the B.C. government last week.

"It will help local governments target and shut down marijuana grow-
ops," Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for housing, told The
Progress on Thursday. "(Grow-ops) pose a danger to our
neighbourhoods and we're determined to shut them down."

Power consumption data was previously considered confidential and
protected by privacy legislation, putting it out of reach of
authorities.

B.C's privacy commissioner David Loukidelis has expressed concern
about the new legislation, saying such initiatives "amount to a form
of surveillance" and he asked the government to re-word the law so
only city inspectors can use it - not police to launch criminal
investigations.

Solicitor General John Les, former Chilliwack mayor, says the
legislation is not aimed at criminal activities, but those that pose
a safety hazard to communities. He cites one case encountered in
Surrey where the pilot program that preceded the legislation was held.

Consumption data revealed a homeowner using four kitchen ranges at
the same time - not for any illicit purpose, Les says - but a safety
hazard that was resolved with an electrical upgrade.

"This is not a criminal proceeding, this is simply a civil power to
deal with uses causing an unsafe condition, and get rid of that
condition," he says.

"I don't have any problems with people interested in civil liberties
taking a critical look at this legislation," he adds. "It's always
important to be balanced and not tread on personal privacy any more
than absolutely necessary. I think we have struck that balance."

Les says Chilliwack can ask BC Hydro for a list of homes with
"unusual consumption," and based on safety concerns, give the
homeowners 48-hours notice of inspection.

Grow-ops can be taken down quickly, he agrees, but the safety hazard
will go with it and the city can declare the residence unsafe for
occupation under an existing bylaw and order the owner to restore it
to health and safety standards.

Both Les and Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames say they have no quarrel
with criticism that the legislation may infringe on civil liberties,
but say a balance must be found between citizens' privacy and the
safety of neighbourhoods.

"If laws are being broken and communities are being hurt ... we need
to think about giving up some civil liberties to ensure safety," says
Mayor Hames.

"I appreciate what civil libertarians are saying, but help us out
here," he says, to find a solution that protects residents living
near grow-ops, and society in general from the marijuana industry
that "bankrolls" other criminal activities.

Legalizing marijuana would remove the profit motive that makes it
attractive to criminals, the mayor agrees, but that is a federal
government matter and would not likely deter the criminal element
moving to other hazardous activities like crystal meth production.

"If they can't make a profit with marijuana ... they'd increase the
number of meth labs," he says. "As a society, you have to say,
'where's the line drawn' and make the best of it."

And should the federal government ever legalize pot, Hames believes
it would simply put Canada in the same position that it was during
the U.S. prohibition on alcohol when it became a huge black market
for illegal sales.

"You can't be the island among nations that makes marijuana legal,"
he says. "From a community perspective this is a war on unsafe
conditions, and a war against organized crime."