LIBERALS EYE SAFETY OF FORMER GROW OPS

TORONTO -- Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman is vowing to look
into health issues surrounding homes that once housed marijuana grow
operations. Many of those homes are later resold to unsuspecting
buyers who face significant health and safety hazards ranging from
mouldy walls to unstable structures.

"That's an issue that (Community Safety) Minister (Monte) Kwinter has
the lead on, but I'm happy to take the health-related aspect issue of
that up and deal with him directly on it," Smitherman said.

According to a Ministry of Health spokesman, most moulds do not
produce any reaction.

The Health Protection and Promotion Act protects the public from
environmental hazards.

Kwinter said the real estate industry is looking at making it
mandatory to disclose to potential buyers if a dwelling has been used
as a grow op. Under the Real Estate Act, the onus is on the real
estate broker to disclose negative facts, he said.

Proposed legislation introduced by Kwinter earlier this fall will also
mandate inspections of buildings identified as a pot house by police.

'UP TO MUNICIPALITIES'

Municipal Affairs and Housing official James Douglas said the
legislation will provide municipalities with the tools to enforce such
cleanups.

"It's really up to municipalities to enforce," said Douglas.

Maximum fines for building without a permit will double under the
legislation. Individuals will face fines of up to $50,000 for a first
offence and twice that for subsequent offences. Corporations would
face fines as high as $100,000 for a first offence and $200,000 after
that.