GROW-OPS TO BE DISCUSSED

Langley MP Mark Warawa will host a town hall meeting to discuss marijuana
grow operations and ways to eliminate them in Langley. The meeting will be
held at Newlands Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, March 30 at 7 p.m.
Warawa recently criticized B.C. Hydro for turning a blind eye on grow-ops
while making a profit from them. Meanwhile, Hydro has entered into a pilot
project in Surrey to work with police, the fire department and city
officials to alert them when a home is using excessive amounts of power.
The townhall meeting will include a discussion on whether or not marijuana
should be decriminalized. Panelists will include Solicitor General Rich
Coleman, representatives from B.C. Hydro, police and fire, and
criminologist Dr. Darryl Plecas.

Carley's Law will be debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday, March 8.

A vote on second reading was delayed on Feb. 23 by the debate on the
federal budget.

Abbotsford MP Randy White submitted Carley's Law as a private member's bill
two years ago following the tragic death of Aldergrove teen Carley Regan,
who was killed by hit-and-run driver Paul Wettlaufer on Jan. 6, 2003.

Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Dick Harris will re-introduce the
bill which will then be open for debate and vote on second reading.

If Bill C-275 become law, penalties for hit and run causing death would
range from seven years to life in prison. Hit and run causing injury would
be equivalent to attempted murder, the penalty for which ranges from four
years to life in prison.

Most people convicted of hit and run receive less than two years.
Wettlaufer received a sentence of 18 months. At the time of the crime, he
was driving while prohibited and had racked up 11 B.C. driving prohibitions
and citations since 1997, including some for impaired driving.

He served 14 of his 18-month sentence before he was released back to live
blocks from the victim.

To support or learn more about Carley's Law, go to http://www.carleyslaw.net.