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The Government of Saskatchewan says it is expanding legislation aimed at nuisance properties.
The provincial government said it is making amendments to the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Act, which will give the SCAN Unit – which is responsible for enforcing the act – new powers to address nuisance properties. The changes will allow the unit to apply to the courts for a forfeiture order or an order to demolish a property deemed unfit for human habitation which negatively affects the safety or economic well being of the surrounding community.
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The amendments will add graffiti and the trafficking of stolen property to the list of activities SCAN can address under the legislation, while still following its current mandate of responding to pubic complaints around buildings involved in illegal activity.
The province said the changes will help address issues like vandalism, squatting and drug use that have a negative effect on safety.
“We know from talking to police and community leaders the negative impact nuisance properties can have on otherwise thriving neighbourhoods,” Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s public safety minister, said in a statement.
“By allowing SCAN officers to actively respond to abandoned or dilapidated properties, we are addressing immediate safety concerns. This amended legislation is part of our government’s commitment to safe and secure communities across Saskatchewan.”
While local authorities have powers to address nuisance properties, the government said the changes will let SCAN focus “on cases where the property itself is a threat to the safety of the neighbourhood.” SCAN will not compete with municipalities or other authorities that are working to improve or restore a property, the provincial government noted, and the new powers will only be used in cases where nuisance properties are not already being addressed.
“SCAN will be able to submit applications to court for rehabilitation or forfeiture orders to address nuisance properties. With a rehabilitation order, SCAN can request permission to demolish a property and restore it to a safe condition, with the owner still retaining possession of the land,” the Government of Saskatchewan noted.
“In these cases, property owners will be responsible for covering related costs. Under a forfeiture order, the nuisance property’s title will be transferred to the government. SCAN will then have the authority to demolish or restore the property site and sell it to recover the costs associated with the restoration or demolition work.”
Rehabilitation orders will be used “whenever possible,” the province said, but when a property is abandoned or the owner is unwilling to co-operate with SCAN to improve the unsafe conditions, a forfeiture order will be pursued instead.
