CITY LIKELY TO BILL OWNERS OF GROW SHOW HOMES

Courtenay will likely issue hefty fines and cleanup costs to owners of five
houses which were recently closed to occupancy after police found massive
"grow shows" inside.

According to city records, five "grow houses" in Courtenay involved in
recent raids are registered to the following owners:

* Trung Oan, Phuong Oan and Anh Tu own the property at 1540 10th St. East.

* Sinh Chung and Voung Phuong own the property at 910 21st St.

* Phuc Hoang and Annie Hoang own the property at 1965 Fitzgerald Ave.

* Lan Ly owns the property at 2710 Stewart Ave.

* Tien Trung owns the property at 1390 22nd St.

People caught tending marijuana plantations have long been charged under
the federal criminal code, but owners of buildings were generally immune
because they could claim they didn't know about activities in their buildings.

But under the new city bylaw, ignorance is not a defence, and property
owners can be fined up to $5,000 and billed for costs of police raids,
attendance by city firefighters (at $500 per fire truck per hour) and fees
for inspections ranging from $300 to $400 per inspection. Once inspections
are complete, owners must pay $250 for an occupancy permit which allows the
building to be rented or occupied. B.C. Hydro may also send hefty bills for
electricity "stolen" during periods it was diverted around meters.

According to the RCMP, police regard grow shows as hazardous sites because
of improvised electric wiring, pesticides and other toxic chemicals and
holes punched in walls and floors which may make the building unstable.

Courtenay council says these conditions also make the houses unsafe for
occupancy.