NEW RULES KEEP LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE

An information session held Tuesday (April 26) to provide the public with
information on a new controlled substance property bylaw, a bylaw that
could cost landlords big bucks, was poorly attended by the public. Of the
thirty people in attendance only ten were from the general public - most
were politicians, police, both on and off duty, and district staff.

"I would've hoped that more people wouldhave turned out, but most people
would have heard about the Chilliwack bylaw which was well publicized. I'm
disappointed but at the same time I think that most people already knew
what it was all about and were pretty much behind it," says Gordon Poole,
mayor of the District of Hope.

"I think that people are pretty aware of it, maybe they were pleased with
it.... before a landlord didn't have the right as easily to inspect their
property now they can be more diligent," says Sergeant Dale Kjemhus, an
area field officer and soon to be announced new staff sergeant for the Hope
and Boston Bar detachments.

The controlled substance bylaw is gaining increasing popularity in various
communities. "There are different forms of the bylaw, but overall most
communities have adopted a substance bylaw and those that haven't are going
that way," says Monique Desrosiers, acting corporal for the Chilliwack Drug
Strike Force which covers the area from Chilliwack to Boston Bar.

Strike Force members were on hand to give a detailed presentation to
residents on how to identify illegal activity in their neighbourhoods and
in their rental homes.

"What we're here to do is assist and clean up the grow ops in the
communities," says Desrosiers. The drug trade is a constant cycle and we
can help control it by stopping some of it at the production stage, adds
Desrosiers.

There are a lot of problems as far as meth and grow ops in