LEGISLATION ALLOWS POLICE TO LOOK AT 'UNUSUAL' HYDRO BILLS

The provincial government announced Thursday that it will amend the
Safety Standards Act to help authorities target and shutdown
marijuana grow operations more quickly and efficiently.

Rich Coleman, minister responsible for housing, said the amendments
would require electrical companies to give municipalities information
about residents with unusual power consumption, so local authorities
can target grow-op houses more effectively.

"The number of grow ops in our province is increasing, and so are the
problems associated with these operations," Coleman said in a news
release. "Grow ops are more likely to catch fire, more likely to have
guns inside and more likely to be robbed. They pose a danger to our
neighbourhoods and we're determined to shut them down."

John Les, minister of public safety and solicitor general, said the
amendments will allow authorities to clamp down on the huge illegal industry.

"Marijuana grow ops are a $7-billion industry in B.C. and they are
largely controlled by organized crime," he said. "This new tool will
be an innovative way to find out where these criminals are operating
and put them out of business."

Len Garis, chair of the Fire Chiefs' Association of B.C., welcomed
the new legislation.

"When our members enter homes, our first priority is firefighter
safety and to save lives," Garis said. "We don't want to worry about
the additional threats posed by grow ops, such as electrocution from
dangling wires and dangerous lights."

Marvin Hunt, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, said a
pilot project in Surrey last year helped dismantle 119 grow ops in
three months.

"I'm pleased that the government of British Columbia is leading the
fight against grow operations," Hunt said. "This legislation will
clearly go a long way for B.C. communities."

Police say there are several ways to identify possible grow ops:

- - Windows boarded or covered;

- - Equipment like large fans, lights and plastic plant containers are
carried into the home;

- - Sounds of construction;

- - Sounds of electrical humming;

- - Strange odours; and

- - Localized surges in electrical power.