RENTERS LOSING THEIR CHARTER RIGHTS

Re: "PoCo prepares to send message to grow ops - go away," Saturday, April 30.

I read with interest your article about the new bylaws to combat pot
growers. While I am all in favour to keep organized crime out of our
cities, I wonder if the full impact of these bylaws is being recognized as
the erosion of our so-called charter rights that it is.

One of the most important points of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms is
that no one can invade and search your home - be it rented or owned -
without a warrant.

Then Big Brother set to work, and ruled that a police officer can enter a
home if she or he has suspicions - not very hard to fabricate. As a
consequence, as happened in Vancouver, the presence of some fertilizer bags
and cooking with exotic spices gives the police the right to storm your
home to search without a warrant.

Next, of course, Big Brother saw the need for SPCA officers to be empowered
to enter your premises without a warrant to see that any animals are well
treated.

Not to be left behind, city inspectors found that they also need the power
to enter and "inspect" homes without a warrant.

Now we are in the final phase, where every homeowner has not only the
right, but a duty to invade rented homes without a warrant. Of course, the
city doesn't say who inspects the homes of the homeowners.

Of course, child molesters and child abusers can still hide their victims
in the home, still safe from inspection and searches, as long as the don't
grow pot. It says much about the priorities of our rulers.

So, if you are a renter, it appears that just about everybody has the right
to invade your privacy and your home. Big Brother, and doublespeak, are
alive and well in Canada.

Herb Hanko, Coquitlam