News Release

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2008

McGuinty Government Acts To Make Communities Safer

NEWS

Two Hamilton-area properties, including one used as a marijuana grow operation, cash and bank accounts with a total net value of almost $325,000 have been forfeited to the Crown under provincial civil forfeiture law. 

Lawyers for the Attorney General demonstrated to the civil court that property in Stoney Creek was used to produce and traffic in marijuana and to steal electricity.  Property in Ancaster, cash and bank accounts were also found to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

On February 14, 2008, the Superior Court ordered that the property and money be forfeited to the Crown.  The case was subject to a 30-day appeal period, which has now expired.      

The proceeds of civil forfeitures are used to compensate the victims of the unlawful activity that gave rise to the forfeiture.  They are also used for grants to support initiatives that help prevent victimization. 

QUOTES

“Another marijuana grow op is permanently out of business.  Our innovative civil forfeiture law takes the profit out of unlawful activity,” said Attorney General Chris Bentley.   

“In Ontario, unlawful activity doesn’t pay.  Instead, our government will use the forfeited proceeds to support victims,” said Ted McMeekin, MPP Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.

“Grow ops are not welcome in our neighbourhoods.  The Attorney General is using civil forfeiture law to help protect our community,” said Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP Hamilton Mountain.

“This forfeiture sends a strong message that marijuana grow operations will not be tolerated in our community.  We will use every civil and criminal law tool available to us to shut these operations down,” said Hamilton Police Service Chief Brian Mullan. 

QUICK FACTS

• Since November 2003, $5 million in property has been forfeited to the Crown under provincial civil forfeiture law.  An additional $11.6 million in property is frozen pending the completion of civil forfeiture proceedings.
• Civil forfeiture proceeds have funded approximately $1 million in compensation to victims of unlawful activity and more than $900,000 in grants to law enforcement agencies.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about civil forfeiture in Ontario. 

Learn more about how the McGuinty government is combating marijuana grow ops. 

Read the Civil Remedies Act.