Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 27, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A bill that would give courts broader powers to shut down crack houses and booze cans is going back to the legislative drawing board.

Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee reads out the standing committee on social programs' report on the Safer Communities and Neighborhoods Act. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

"In my 12 years in this legislature, I have never seen a bill that has been so roundly and thoroughly criticized from so many points of the compass," Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger said after regular members voted to send the Safer Communities and Neighborhoods Act back for more work.

MLAs cited several problems with the legislation, including the ability of Yellowknife-based SCAN investigators to work in isolated communities, the potential for Charter violations and inherent problems with evicting bootleggers and drug dealers in communities with limited housing.

The bill would create a four-person unit with the power to investigate problem homes across the NWT, and deliver court orders to evict the residents. The legislation copies laws in force in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon.

"Something that was taken from down south is not going to apply up here," said Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Robert McLeod. "With some changes, it may work."

"The spirit, the principle, is something we all want to see."

McLeod cited the views of people who voiced concerns at hearings in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Colville Lake, Behchoko and Fort Smith.

Concerned citizens included members of advocacy groups and local politicians. Tuktoyaktuk deputy mayor Merven Gruben wondered where problem people would end up.

"Where are they going to go?" he asked.

"Are we going to stick them with their families and burden them again?

Even regular members strongly in favour of the bill went along with the will of their fellow members, though some offered a warning.

In response to the motion tabled by Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee, that the bill be sent back to committee, Justice Minster Brendan Bell was conciliatory.

"I apologize again that I wasn't able to bring this home, but Mr. Chairman, if it's the will of the house that this legislation not proceed during the 15th legislative assembly, I obviously must and am certainly willing to respect that decision."

The move came as a surprise to Lydia Bardak of the John Howard Society.

"I was worried: 'what if government doesn't listen to the consultations?'" she said. "But they did."

"The best thing that came out of this is getting everybody talking about this issue," she said.

"There's so much desire to try and address this problem in our communities."

"Let's make sure we're pairing enforcement with treatment and prevention."