OTHERS SHOULD WATCH VAUGHAN'S POT HOUSE POLICY

Somehow, I don't see Belinda Stronach doing this.

I heard about crimefighting Scarborough politicians Jim Karygiannis
and Mike Del Grande while visiting my father-in-law a few months ago.

At that time, there was already some concern from Scarberians that
their MP and city councillor were on a personal crusade against
marijuana grow operations.

But it appears the dynamic duo are undeterred -- going door-to-door to
check for lawbreakers.

The other week, Mr. Karygiannis says he confronted two guys he thought
were trying to divert hydro, then blocked them in the driveway so they
couldn't get away.

Sounds like he should be getting fitted for his spandex Mr. Incredible
suit.

At least there's no way anyone can say these politicians are doing
nothing about the issue.

Mr. Karygiannis might better use his energy in the House of Commons,
where marijuana is discussed from time to time.

And on the municipal front, Vaughan has Scarborough beat hands down.
It has begun deploying its most fearsome force -- its bylaw officers
- -- against pot growers.

When police raid a grow house in Vaughan, they notify bylaw
enforcement officers, who inspect the house for health and safety
problems such as mould, faulty wiring, chemicals and structural
damage. They then start issuing property standards notices.

All kidding aside, it's a great idea.

I was surprised to learn that, normally, there is no contact between
police and the municipality about marijuana operations.

Previously, Vaughan only learned about grow house raids when
neighbours complained about the place sitting derelict and drawing
vandals.

And that can be serious business. Inevitably, the houses are sold.
Nobody in any official channel can be sure the buyers know the home's
history, or that mould, rot, jerry-rigged electrical systems and other
hazards have been fixed.

Under the Vaughan system, bylaw orders go on file and can be used to
alert homebuyers about the problems.

Of course, that only helps if the buyer's lawyer checks those files.
And if one were careful about a home purchase, one would hire a
professional home inspector, who would find all those hazards anyway.

Some buyers just aren't that careful.

Which is why Councillor Linda Jackson called for the city to go a step
further and put a sign on the front lawn of every grow house.

A city legal official offered to do a report, but said she was
"concerned about the rest of the neighbours not wanting it".

Yeah, I'm guessing the good people of Vaughan don't want to advertise
the presence of criminal operations, safety hazards and scandal on
their streets.

Given that signs carrying the most innocuous messages are routinely
defaced, uprooted and stolen, I doubt the "This here's one of them pot
houses" sign would last very long.

There are, undoubtedly, ways to make sure the information reaches real
estate agents without advertising it to the entire world. That should
be the approach.

The other aspect of the policy is that it punishes property owners.
That provides a strong incentive for the landlord to keep an eye on
his tenants.

But if a landlord is genuinely unaware of what his tenant was doing,
is it fair to fine him? After all, isn't having his property destroyed
punishment enough? What are his odds of receiving any compensation
from growers for damage they caused -- if, in fact, he was brave
enough to approach them?

Vaughan is the only York municipality co-operating directly with
police. Markham is working on its own policy. The other towns should
be watching closely because grow operations are in every part of the
region -- and by all accounts, they are expanding.

This looks like a job for -- a bylaw inspector.