A provincial bill aimed at making neighbourhoods and communities safer by closing properties involved in illegal activities has passed committee today despite not having Conservative and NDP support.
Bill 106, the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCAN) which is being championed by Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi, passed on a vote of 4-2 at the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.
“I am incredibly proud to see this legislation move forward,” Naqvi said. “Our community has worked very hard to bring SCAN forward, and today is really a victory for them.”
The bill will let municipalities close down properties that are habitually used for illegal purposes. It has garnered controversy in Ontario over its constitutional legality and potential to marginalize certain groups.
SCAN will now be referred back to the legislature but will have to gain support from the NDP and Conservative parties' House Leaders before it is called up for third reading.
“I am disappointed that my NDP and Conservative colleagues continue to oppose this legislation,” said Naqvi. “Over the next few months, I will be working very hard to reach out to them to improve their understanding of SCAN so that this important legislation can continue to move forward.”
Seven other provinces have adopted similar legislation, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Alberta.