SCARBOROUGH COUNCILLOR SEEKS FINE STRUCTURE FOR GROW-OP
HOMEOWNERS

Wants Deed Holders To Pay Costs Associated With Investigations,
Inspections

Property owners that allow their homes to be used as marijuana grow
operations in Toronto will face hefty fines from the city if council
approves two new bylaws next month. Ward 39 (Scarborough Agincourt)
Councillor Mike Del Grande has been working with city staff on the
bylaws for the past two years.

"Landlords or anybody that owns these places are going to be hit
hard," Del Grande said in an interview Wednesday, noting that the
bylaws were created in consultation with police, fire, public health,
building, licensing and legal staff.

"There are some significant penalties," he said.

"I don't think the City of Toronto should be paying for this criminal
activity."

The bylaws would make it an offence to cause, allow or permit a
property to be used as a marijuana grow op and would set out a series
of escalating fines and a cost-recovery plan whereby the property
owner would be charged for any expenses incurred by the city during
grow op investigations.

"They aren't going to get just a slap on the hand," Del Grande said,
noting that it likely costs anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000 to
investigate and clean up a grow operation.

Seventy-four such operations have been uncovered in his ward since Del
Grande was first elected.

"I'm proactive on it," Del Grande said. "I made it an active thing to
get rid of these in my ward."

The illegal conversions of homes and apartment units often result in
issues of electrical hazards, water and mould damage, structural
issues and neighbourhood crime.

Del Grande said the need for action in his area became clear after a
man, who was inside his own home, was shot by a stray bullet when
rival gangs came to blows over a grow operation on an Agincourt street
several years ago.

"How safe can one be when they're in their own home and they get
shot?" Del Grande said, adding, "Those things don't belong in
residential communities."

Under the City of Toronto Act, the city is required to inspect a
premise when notified by the police of a grow operation.

The city is then required to take action, which results in costs being
incurred, to address the illegal activities and any violations of
municipal regulations.

Under the proposed bylaw, the city would have the authority to recover
the costs of that remedial work by placing those costs on the tax roll
and collecting them as taxes.

Any costs associated with the investigation, inspection, review and
preparation of reports, enforcement, administrative work,
court/tribunal attendance and legal work could be recovered from the
property owner.

For example, the property owner would be charged $840 for the property
investigation by the police; $500 for an inspection by public health,
anywhere from $350 to $600 for an inspection by the fire department
and $150 for solicitor services.

If the costs are not recovered, a lien could then be issued on the
property and added to the tax bill.

The city's licensing committee will address the issue on Sept. 11.