Pubdate: Fri, 20 Mar 2009
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Dan Wong

DON'T BLAME LANDLORDS

NDP MLA Bruce Ralston proposes penalizing landlords who are unlucky
enough to have bad tenants who grow marijuana. This is bad policy on
four counts.

Landlords are innocent victims and not partners in crime with such
tenants.

Landlords aren't policemen and to do police work would put them at
risk of being killed by tenants.

How can landlords screen new tenants? Even if the police provide
photos and names of criminals, identities can still be concealed.

Lastly, tenants are protected by law and landlords must give advance
warning before inspecting the premises. That's enough time for tenants
to hide pot.

Blaming landlords for the drug problem is as silly as blaming B.C.
Place for football fans who commit crimes.

Instead of targeting easy scapegoats, how about stopping real
criminals?

Dan Wong, Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake