JUSTICE CRITIC HEARS PORT COQUITLAM GROW-OP CONCERNS

Marijuana grow operations were the hot topic Wednesday night when
Conservative justice critic Vic Toews met with stakeholders in Port
Coquitlam to talk about justice issues.

Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam MP James Moore arranged the meeting,
which included RCMP and representatives from three levels of government,
because he wanted to gather information to use when putting forward
legislation.

Toews said it's one thing to talk about the problems associated with
marijuana grow ops, but it's another to hear about and see the problem
firsthand.

"It's quite an eye-opener," Toews told The NOW Thursday.

Moore took Toews on a tour of former grow-op locations in Port Coquitlam
and heard that grow operations, the crimes and repercussions associated
with them, and punishment of grow operators are concerns for PoCo residents.

Cross-border trade in marijuana also came up - Toews said 95 per cent of
marijuana grown in B.C. goes south of the border, and comes back in the
form of cocaine and weapons.

"This is not an innocent business endeavour," Toews said. "The lesson to be
learned is putting away the individual for a significant amount of time has
a great impact."

That's why he's pushing for legislation to set a minimum sentence for
people convicted of having grow operations.

"The sense I received from the police is they're overwhelmed," Toews said.
"They feel they are getting no support from the courts."

Toews said raising the maximum sentence - something Liberals have talked
about - won't work if the courts won't follow the lead. He said only one in
13 people convicted of serious drug offences is incarcerated.

Toews said what he'll take away from the meeting in Port Coquitlam is
information that will help the Conservatives develop amendments to what is
already before Parliament and committees.

Toews also met with stakeholders in Delta, Surrey and Maple Ridge while
visiting B.C.