Many have made contact concerning this establishment which opened in the former Mac’s Milk location at Pinecrest and Baseline; concerned especially but not limited to its close proximity to both Pinecrest public school, St. Paul’s HS, and Sir Robert Borden HS. I personally spoke with both the Mayor Jim Watson and our Councillor Rick Chiarelli on the weekend, as well as with our community police representative via email. The Ottawa Police Drug unit is aware and I’ve been told that asset forfeiture is in process.
When it comes to enforcement the police have been handicapped until recently in their capabilities and were only able to arrest and charge individuals . Bill 174 has recently received royal accent and provides the police additional authority to shutdown businesses and charge landlords in addition to individuals.
Of interest in Bill 174:
Penalties: sale, distribution; landlords
(2) An individual who is convicted for contravening section 6 or 13 is liable,
(a) on a first conviction in respect of the section, a fine of not more than $250,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years less a day, or both; and
(b) on a subsequent conviction in respect of the section, a fine of not more than $100,000 for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years less a day, or both.
Penalty: sale, distribution to persons under 19
(4) Upon conviction for contravening section 7,
(a) a corporation is liable to a fine of not more than $500,000; and
(b) an individual is liable to a fine of not more than $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both
Bill 174 may be found in full at: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5276
Regards
Scott Pegrum, President QGPCA