Scarborough councillor wants city's new powers to be used against grow-ops
'Start testing the water, start being bold': Del Grande

By: SUSAN O'NEILL

The city needs to take bold action in testing its powers under the new City of Toronto Act, according to a Scarborough councillor who's hoping his colleagues will use the new legislation to tackle marijuana grow operations.
"Everybody is all excited about the City of Toronto Act. 'Oh look at all these powers.' And then everybody is timid to use these powers," Ward 39 Councillor Mike Del Grande (Scarborough-Agincourt) said Friday following the first meeting of the city's new licensing and standards committee.

"My position is, if you've got powers start using them, start testing the water, start being bold."

Del Grande said the city has been lax in enforcement and he maintains it's time to take "a more aggressive position with lawbreakers. "I think a lot of long-term Torontonians are frustrated because they don't see enforcement occurring. They see all kinds of activities, whether they be illegal, or breaking bylaws etc., and they don't see the enforcement so they ask the question, 'Why bother? Why should I get a building permit when my next door neighbour had been building whatever,'" he said, adding people get the impression "it's a free-for-all."

When it comes to dealing with grow operations, 72 of which have been busted in Del Grande's ward over the past four years, there are several things the city could be doing, the first of which is requiring on-title disclosure that a home has been used a grow house, since toxic mould, chemical residue and structural damage can result from indoor marijuana farming.

"We have 600 families that have bought these places or are living in these places that the insurance company will not insure, the bank will not give you a mortgage for so if we're here to protect citizens, aren't we here to protect innocent citizens? Shouldn't we be helping those people as opposed to the criminal?" Del Grande said.

He said he believes prospective buyers would benefit from having more information about local properties.

"Well I think it would put the fear of God in a lot of landlords who rent these things out to be more vigilant with their properties. It would force them to clean up their properties," Del Grande said.

"It sends a message to the bad guys that it's not going to be as easy as it used to be," he added.

Del Grande also maintains there needs to be more communication and co-operation between city departments to ensure enforcement is being carried out.