The province is targeting nuisance homes with the tabling of a Community Safety Act.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the new provincial force to target problem homes is in the development stage with the goal of having it operational by the end of the year.

Farnworth says the new unit will work cooperatively with utilities, police, and local government to deal with problem homes within a 90-day period.

“That may be working with a landlord to prohibit certain kinds of activities, or it may require for example city eviction of a tenant,” he said.

“It may require then the local government to go in and say there are other things that are firmly under our jurisdiction that we want to see dealt with, and they would deal with those issues.”

Farnworth adds a lot of these nuisance properties are already well known in each community.

“We’re going to be able to shut down these nuisance properties faster than has been in the past,” he noted. “It’s not a silver bullet by any means, it’s an additional tool.”

“It allows for resolution of some of the issues around these kinds of properties that don’t involve having to go to court.”

Farnworth also anticipates the initiative will help kneecap organized crime operations in BC communities.