Community safety law targeting problem properties
Posted February 23, 2013 9:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – Dealing with problem properties and their owners just got a lot easier.
The province has proposed legislation that would have a special task force set-up to handle the situation.
Problem properties where unlawful, dangerous and threatening activities take away from neighbourhood safety and security may be shut down.
If the law is passed, the Community Safety Act would let people submit confidential complaints to a new provincial unit charged with investigating, mediating and working with property owners to curb various threatening and dangerous activities.
Surrey’s Mayor Dianne Watts says her city has its own bylaw and mandates to handle things like prostitution or crack shacks, but adds this unit would make dealing with questionable property owners — much easier.
“A lot of times we’ll bring in the fire department if it’s a safety issue, in terms of trying to deal with it, but if there is appropriate legislation and a unit that deal with this, then we can coordinate much better.”
The VPD is also getting behind the idea.
There is similar legislation already in place in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Yukon.
