Premier considers compensation for tenants in grow-op highrise
Last Updated: Monday, November 27, 2006 | 5:18 PM ET
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Beatrice Stucki reports for CBC-TV
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Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is looking into the possibility of compensating people who live in the Toronto apartment building where a large-scale marijuana grow-operation was discovered last week.
Residents have expressed concerns about their health and safety in the North York highrise where millions of dollars worth of marijuana plants were seized from 22 separate units on Friday.
Toronto police have said the grow-op, which was soil-based rather than hydroponic, has led to fire threats and mould growth, which can cause respiratory problems.
Conservative Leader John Tory, who raised the issue in the legislature during Monday afternoon's question period, said he toured the Jane Street building over the weekend and spoke with residents, who shared stories of mould on their walls and recurring power outages.
Tory said the province's Compensation for Victims of Crime Act suggests those whose health was affected by the grow-ops would be eligible for some form of compensation.
McGuinty replied that he would speak with Attorney General Michael Bryant and Monte Kwinter, minister of community safety and correctional services, to determine whether funds are available.
However, the premier added, "I would not want to somehow lead the public to believe that the property owner is not without some responsibility in this matter."
He said during question period that Toronto Public Health visited the building over the weekend and had determined there was no threat or health hazard in the common areas of building.
Health officials are now checking units adjacent to those that had been turned into grow-ops.
Three men — including a building superintendent — have been charged in connection with the grow-ops that were found on nine different floors of the west-end Toronto highrise.
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