POT GROWERS PAY FOR NEW PROGRAM

A 90-day Grow Op Public Safety pilot project that kicked in yesterday
should give Abbotsford one of the most effective marijuana grow-op
busting tools in Canada, said Mayor Mary Reeves.

The aim of the project is to improve public safety, eradicate grow ops
and to recover fire, police and city costs from owners whose
properties contain marijuana grow operations or street drug labs.

"We've been getting lots of calls from other jurisdictions across the
country wanting a copy of this bylaw," Reeves said at the official
launch at city hall Thursday.

The $100,000 pilot project, designed in the past year and a half by
the city's grow-op task force, will enforce the provincial Fire
Services Act, the B.C. Building Code and the city's Controlled
Substance Property Bylaw to gain entry into homes suspected to have
dangerous activity.

The bylaw enables the city to charge property owners, while the Fire
Services Act allows firefighters to enter a property if there is a
risk to public safety.

Police and fire service costs to the city rose to $115,000 in 2004
from $60,00 the year before, said Reeves. Property losses, due to fire
damage for example, fell to $400,000 in 2004 from $750,000 in 2004,
but the city can't afford to pay for the skyrocketing costs, Reeves
added.

Abbotsford-area MLAs Mike de Jong and John van Dongen were present at
the kick-off to represent Solicitor General Rich Coleman, whose
ministry provided $80,000 to start the pilot.

"It's clear the city had covered every detail that one might question,
hence it was not difficult to support this project," said van Dongen.

Reeves said the city will make up the funding difference, but she
expects by the end of three months, the program will be paying for
itself from fees, fines and costs paid by the offending property owners.

Three city workers will work exclusively on the program and will
include a fire fighter, a bylaw officer and a building inspector.

HAZMAT vehicles will also be called to every suspected methamphetamine
lab, Reeves said.

While criminal charges may result from the inspections, the city's
primary interest was to improve safety in residential neighbourhoods,
said Reeves.

"The message needs to go out, that if you're putting kids, families
and fire rescue people are risk, it's going to stop. If you enjoy a
bounty from your work, you're going to pay," said Coun. Bruce Beck, a
marijuana task force member.

Information on suspected grow-ops will come from a tipline
[604-864-5512], from neighbours, police informants, BC Hydro power
theft reports and the fire department's $10,000 heat imaging cameras.