ONTARIO'S HYDRO-METER MADNESS

Re: 'Smart' meters and grow-ops.

On one hand, we have Dalton McGuinty's Ontario Liberal government trying to
grant hydro companies the right to shut off people's electricity if they
think something illegal is going on. Even the police don't have this power:
They need a funny thing called a "warrant."

We also have new "smart meters" that are supposed to help thwart grow-ops.
But as most people already know, marijuana growers often bypass the meter
to avoid detection. These meters will cost Ontario taxpayers a fortune,
accomplish little and drive the street value of cannabis even higher,
giving growers and traffickers a big raise. Way to go, Dalton!

On the other hand, if cannabis growing were legalized and regulated, it
would save Ontario taxpayers tens of millions annually, stop the black
market's number one money-maker, grant police even more power of
enforcement, free up police resources to stop violent crime and terrorism,
give firefighters and police a clear idea of where the grow-ops are and
generate hundreds of millions more in annual tax revenue.

It is starting to look like Mr. McGuinty is actually trying to do organized
crime a favour, and make the people of Ontario pay the bill.

By not legalizing and regulating cannabis, our government is endangering
Canadians and deliberately subsidizing organized crime.

It makes me wonder just which side of law they are really on.

Russell Barth, Ottawa