CITY SHUTS 88 GROW-OPS THIS YEAR

The City of Abbotsford has shut down 88 marijuana grow-ops so far
this year, according to statistics released on Thursday.

Two years after the launch of the city's Grow Op Public Safety
Inspection program by former Abbotsford Mayor Mary Reeves, current
mayor George Ferguson said he believes the initiative "has made our
neighbourhoods safer."

The city now runs a full-time public safety inspection division,
which closed 150 grow-ops in 2006.

"Our message to grow operators is, don't set up business in our
city," said Ferguson.

Ferguson said the team uses water and Hydro consumption readings, and
tips from residents, to determine potential grow-op locations.

Some of the program's benefits, the mayor explained, include
increasing the safety of children and helping to prevent fires.

According to the city, 88 of 148 suspected grow-ops have been shut
down so far this year. Of those, 22 grow-ops saw reports filed to the
Ministry of Children and Families, when young children were believed
to be at "significant risk."