By Colton Swiderski

Eviction program growing in Saskatchewan

Oct 5, 2016 | 5:23 PM

Over 4,000 eviction notices have been handed out in nearly 300 communities in Saskatchewan. The Safer Communities and Neighbourhood Act (SCAN) team who have handed out the notices want every drug dealer to know they’re coming for them.

The SCAN program is a provincial mandate started in 2005 comprised of retired RCMP officers with drug and gang experience.

Deputy director of SCAN North, Bruce Ehalt, said the team investigates complaints across Saskatchewan of suspected drug or gang activity.

“We have seen some communities turn around by using us and the fact dealers know we’re coming after them,” he said. “It ensures they stay out of the communities.”

At a community safety conference in Ile-a-la-Crosse on Sept. 30, Ehalt announced they’d issued a demand to vacate notice to a known drug dealer of Ile a La Crosse. The announcement was greeted by a round of standing applause.

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“I believe we’re going to send a message to those involved in the drug trade in Ile-a-La-Crosse, we’re here to stay. The people are coming forward and we’re working with them and the RCMP and we will continue to be on the watch for those doing this kind of activity,” he said.

The SCAN team works with the homeowner to issue an eviction notice, or if the suspect is the homeowner they’re allowed to evict the suspect for a total of 90 days.

Based out of Saskatoon, SCAN members travel wherever they’re called. To date, the team’s been in 282 communities and issued over 4,000 eviction notices. Ehalt said they’ve been invited to more communities as awareness of the program spreads.

Those who file a complaint with SCAN are given complete anonymity, even from police.

They say neighbours unsure of any illegal activity can watch out for warning signs, such as frequent visitors at all times of the day, visitors with expensive vehicles or strange odours coming from the house or garbage.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.