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MP Wants War On Grow Ops
01.29.07|torontosun.com|By KATHLEEN HARRIS

A Liberal MP says the Tories are all talk, no action when it comes to tackling the "criminal plague" of marijuana grow-ops across Canada.

Toronto MP Jim Karygiannis said there is a "resurgence" of large-scale pot operations, and he's pressing for a sliding-scale formula of stiffer sentences to combat the scourge.

The Commons justice committee had been studying proposed legislation before the election was called in November 2005, but the Conservative government has done little to fight the problem since taking office, he charged.

"They were screaming and yelling about it when we were there in government. They've been in a year and they've done nothing," Karygiannis said.

But Justice Minister Rob Nicholson's spokesman, Genevieve Breton, said the number of marijuana grow-ops and the production of crack cocaine, crystal meth and Ecstacy increased "dramatically" while the Liberals were in power. She insisted the Conservative government plans to follow through with a campaign pledge to combat illicit drugs.

Karygiannis plans to press for mandatory minimum sentences that would work on ascale. More than three plants would net two years in jail, between 21-50 would garner a five-year sentence, 50-100 would get seven years and more than 100 would earn a 14-year lock-up, he suggested. He plans to introduce the plan as a motion that could be studied by a Parliamentary committee.

Karygiannis said police were making some progress to combat the problem, but have found lax sentences aren't enough of a deterrent to drive away the profitable enterprises. Grow-houses are now "rampant" in his riding and jeopardizing the health and safety of children and neighbourhoods.

Karygiannis urged citizens to report suspected grow-houses to police.