Mission mulls stronger inspections of suspected grow-ops

WATCH: While the number of grow ops in Surrey has dropped substantially, Mission is looking at launching a similar program as their numbers rise. John Hua reports.

“We may as well put a sign up at the edge of the city saying grow-ops welcome,” says Randy Hawes, the Mayor of Mission.

He’s proposing that the city adopt similar regulations to Surrey, in order combat what he says is an ever-growing number of grow-ops flooding the city because of minimal oversight.

“Places like Surrey and Abbotsford and Chilliwack, who have a responsible program for at least inspecting grow-ops, they continue to have illegal grow-ops leaving, and where do they go? Mission, because we don’t do anything. Well it’s time for us to do something,” he says.

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“We can’t have this any more. We can’t have neighbours forced out of their homes because they can’t live with the smell, they can’t live with the danger of grow-ops happening next door, and frankly can’t live with licensed grow-ups that are many, many times over their licensed limit.”

Surrey has seen an 80 per cent decrease in grow-ops in the last four years, according to Len Garis, their fire safety chief.

“If you’re going to be growing marijuana in Surrey, what’s going to be happening is eventually we’re going to be inspecting your premises and eventually you’re going to be compelled to clean your property and make it safe,” says Garis.

“It works, it’s a deterrent. We don’t see too many grow-ops in the city anymore, and the ones that we do…we make them safe.”

Mission did have a Public Safety Inspection Team from 2008 to 2011, but it was scrapped after outcry from those charged $5,000 simply because they were suspected of having a grow op due to an abnormally high electrical bill.

Hawes says that approach wasn’t correct, but is adamant the city needs to find a way to step up enforcement.

“I want Mission to be very unfriendly to illegal grow-ops. I don’t want them there, and I know our public doesn’t want them there.”