SAFER COMMUNITIES & NEIGHBOURHOODS ACT

The Director of Public relations for the Safer Communities and
Neighbourhoods Act, Fred Sandford, made a presentation to County
Council on June 25th.

Explaining how the Act works and what it is intended to do, Mr.
Sandford said, "The Act targets illegal drug use, prostitution, the
unlawful sale of liquor and illegal gaming.

"This legislation gives citizens the tools to take back their
communities by reporting problem residences and businesses. It holds
property owners accountable for threatening or disturbing activities
regularly taking place on their property," Mr. Sandford said.

Unlike the criminal code, the Act allows for complete anonymity for
the complainant.

When the Public Safety Investigative Unit is called at
1-877-357-2337, the complainant will not be involved in any
investigative or court proceedings that may result from the complaint.

The Public Safety Investigation Section was established to
investigate and enforce the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act.

"Investigators are experienced police officers," Mr. Sandford told
Council, " who work closely with local law enforcement officers and
with property owners and landowners to evict people who are involved
in threatening or disturbing activities." He added that the Safer
Communities and Neighbourhoods Act overrides the Residential Tenancy Act.

The investigative unit will collect evidence of threatening or
disturbing behaviour and present the evidence in court with
affidavits from the whistleblowers. The judgement is made not on the
burden of proof but on a balance of possibilities.

It should be noted that the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act
is not criminal legislation designed to punish offenders but is
intended to force those participating in illegal activities out of
the neighborhood.

To this end a Community Safety Order or as a last resort a Closure
Order is issued and a large poster outlining the Order is affixed to
the building in question .

The order the owners to take steps to stop the problem and bars the
tenants from continuing the illegal or threatening activities.

The Act has been criticized for just moving a problem from one area to another.

Warden Wayne Budge pointed out hat someone who does not like his
neighbour my use the Act to be vindictive.

Mr. Sandford responded that the investigative unit can determine if
this is the case very quickly when it attempts to collect its evidence.

Two other Provinces Manitoba and Saskatchewan also have similar
legislation which has proven to be quite successful.