On any block and in any
neighbourhood, it only takes one house that is harbouring illegal activities
to undermine the safety of all residents of that community and affect the
property values throughout that neighbourhood.
The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act
will improve community safety by targeting and, if necessary, shutting down
residential and commercial buildings and land that are habitually used for
illegal activities such as producing, selling or using illegal drugs,
prostitution, solvent abuse or the unlawful sale and consumption of alcohol.
The Act also creates a process where building
fortifications that cause public safety concerns can be removed
by investigators.
These fortifications often include bullet-proof glass or explosive-resistant
materials, armour to reinforce doors, and bars on windows or doors.
This legislation empowers citizens to take back
their neighbourhoods by reporting problem residences and
businesses. It will also hold property owners accountable for threatening or
disturbing activities regularly taking place on their property.
Overall, this Act promotes community safety by
cleaning up properties that:
Negatively effect the health, safety or
security of one or more persons in a neighbourhood; and/or
Interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of one
or more properties in a community or neighbourhood.
Complainant –
a person who has made a complaint to the Director
of Community Operations.
Owner –
a person who is the registered owner of title to the property; a person who is
entitle to be the registered owner of title to the property; a person shown as
the owner of the property in the municipal tax roll records of the property; a
person who manages or receives rents from the property; a guardian; a property
decision-maker; an executor; administrator or trustee; or an attorney under a
power of attorney.
Respondent –
the owner named as respondent.
Property
– a building and the land on which it is located or land on which no building
is located.
Resident
– an individual who has a right to occupy residential property as his/her
residence, but does not own the property.
Under the Act, "property" includes a
structure, business, house, apartment, suite, mobile home or land in which
there is no building.
Q.
How does the complaint process work?
A.
The process starts when one or more
residents of a neighbourhood file a complaint with the Director of
Community Operations. The complaint is kept confidential and the identity
of those who file it cannot be revealed at any time. Having received the
complaint, the Director may launch an investigation by the Safer
Communities and Neighbourhoods Investigation Unit if there is enough
evidence to support the complaint. The Director has several options
including issuing a warning letter to the property owner, resolving the
problem out of court, applying for a Community Safety Order with or
without a closure order against the property, or applying for an immediate
closure order.
Q.
Is the complaint confidential?
A.
Yes. No person, including the Director,
can, without written consent of the complainant, disclose the identity of
the complainant or any information by which the complainant may be
identified to another person, court, government institution, local
authority or law enforcement agency.
Q.
Who investigates the complaint?
A.
The investigation of the complaint is done
by the Director of Community Operations and the Safer Communities
Investigation Unit. There is an Investigation Unit in both Saskatoon and
Regina. To contact the Regina office, call (306) 787-0400. To contact the
Saskatoon office, call (306) 933-8373. Or call the toll free number at
1-866-51-SAFER.
Q.
What happens to occupants living in a
property that is shut down?
A.
All occupants of a property that is closed
by a Community Safety Order will leave it immediately, even if they have
not been previously served with an order. If an occupant does not comply
with a request to leave, the Director can obtain the assistance of a peace
officer to remove them from the property. After leaving the property, and
while the property is closed, no occupant can enter or occupy the property
without the Director’s consent.
Removing tenants from a residence is a last resort that would only be
pursued in the face of a lack of cooperation. The Act is very careful to
provide due process to any owners or occupants directly affected by an
order under this legislation either by the court or by the Director. This
Act is not criminal legislation designed to punish offenders. Rather, this
is legislation to improve public safety in our communities. Previously,
these issues were often addressed in city bylaws in a less direct fashion.
Q.
What happens to tenants who were not
involved in the "activities"?
A.
Commercial and residential tenants who
have not been involved in any illegal activities can apply to the court
for a variance of the order, which allows them to return to the property.
This application is to be made within 14 days of being served with an
order although the court may extend this time.
Q.
What is a "fortified building"?
A.
A "fortified building" is a building that
is fortified in a way that exceeds reasonable security measures for such
residential or commercial dwellings including: bullet proof or explosive
resistant material on doors and windows; armored or specially enforced
doors; metal bars on exterior windows; or any other fortifications set out
by the regulations. The Act will apply to businesses as well as
residences.
Q.
What does the fortified buildings part
of the Act do?
A.
The fortified buildings part of the Act
deals with fortifications in buildings that pose a threat to public safety
by preventing emergency response personnel, law enforcement officials, or
occupants from gaining access to or escaping from those buildings in an
emergency. The Act also recognizes that such buildings are often a threat
to the general public safety in the neighbourhood.
Q.
What should I look for in my
neighbourhood?
A.
The following is a list of common signs of
illegal activity. Alone, any of these activities or signs may not
necessarily mean that drug dealing, drug producing, substance abuse,
prostitution or any variety of other illegal activities are occurring on a
property. However, a frequency of the following list of activities or a
combination of them occurring on a property may indicate a problem:
Frequent visitors at all times of the
day and night
Frequent late night activity
Windows blackened or curtains always
drawn
Visitors with expensive vehicles
Unfriendly people who appear to be
secretive about their activities
People watching cars suspiciously as
they pass by
Extensive investment in home security
Strange odours coming from the house or
garbage
Garbage that contains numerous bottles
and containers, particularly chemical containers
Putting garbage out in another
neighbours’ collection area
If you are suspicious of a property in your
neighbourhood, do not investigate it yourself or approach the occupants.
Please call the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Investigation Unit
immediately. There is an Investigation Unit in both Saskatoon and Regina.
To contact the Regina office, call (306) 787-0400. To contact the
Saskatoon office, call (306) 933-8373. Or call the toll free number at
1-866-51-SAFER.
On any block and in any
neighbourhood, it only takes one house that is harbouring illegal activities
to undermine the safety of all residents of that community and affect the
property values throughout that neighbourhood.
