Meet Maritimes' first bed bug sniffing dog

The two-year-old Parson Russell terrier also has a sniffing specialty, but Ekko's forte is a bit unusual: he's the Martimes' first bed bug sniffing dog.

Ekko's owner, Andrew Farago, operates Scentdogs, a privately owned K-9 detection service in Berry Mills. Farago has two drug-detection dogs and often works with dog trainer Bill Grimmer, who has a bomb-sniffing dog. Two years ago they were chatting about the fact that there is not a lot of call for drug sniffing dogs in the private sector.

"He (Grimmer) said there is all kinds of stuff out there, and the big one now is bed bugs," Farago says.

So Farago went on the hunt for a new dog to train. He acquired Ekko when he was just 10 weeks old and began teaching him to snoop out the pesky little critters.

"Everything has an odour, so if you can train the dog to look for that odour, the dog will find it. You can train a dog to find anything," he says.

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Meet Maritimes' first bed bug sniffing dog

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Human Rights, Police and Tenancy: A Troubling Mix?

Linda McKay-Panos for ABlawg.ca

November 23, 2009

A recent decision of Justice Joanne Veit of the Court of Queen’s Bench brings to light the potential interrelationship between landlord and tenant legislation, human rights legislation and the powers of the police-both generally and under the new Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act S.A., 2007, c. S-0.5 (”SCAN“). Before discussing the disturbing facts of the case, it is useful to discuss the legislation that could apply.

The Alberta Human Rights Act, R.S.A., 2000 c. A-25.5, recently replaced the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, R.S.A. 2000, c.H-14. Section 5 of the Alberta Human Rights Act provides that landlords cannot deny rental accommodation or provide rental conditions for tenants in a manner that discriminates against them based upon a number of grounds, including mental disability.

The SCAN permits police officers (and other officials) to apply to the court for a community safety order to vacate and/or close the premises when property is consistently used for purposes such as drug trafficking, gang activity or child pornography.

Section 29(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act, S.A. 2004, c. R-17.1, authorizes the termination of a tenancy (eviction notice) for a substantial breach by a tenant. The covenants a tenant makes are set out in s. 21 and include: paying the rent when due, not interfering with the rights of other tenants or the landlord, not performing illegal acts or carrying on an illegal trade on the premises, not endangering persons or property in the premises or the common areas, not doing or permitting significant damages to the premises, maintaining the rented premises in a reasonably clean condition and vacating the premises at the expiration or termination of the tenancy.

In Alberta, the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service assists people with residential tenancy disputes. This service provides landlords and tenants with the ability to resolve disputes outside of court. A Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) is authorized to make binding decisions involving disputes of up to $25,000. There are limitations to the powers of the DRO, however. For example, the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service Regulation (A.R. 98/2006) provides that the DRO must make an order that the matter cannot be heard if he or she believes the matter involves a constitutional law or human rights law issue or if the issues are too complex and that a court is the appropriate body to hear the matter. When the DRO makes such an order, the applicant must either withdraw the application or designate a court (Provincial Court or Court of Queen’s Bench) to which the matter will be transferred.

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New Regulations Restrict Landlords from Billing Tenants with Heat Sub-meters

November 18, 2009

Renters can no longer be charged for the energy used to heat their apartments with uncertified heat sub-meters under new regulatory changes introduced by the government.

“I’ve heard a number of concerns from tenants about the accuracy and fairness of heat sub-meters,” said Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk. “These new rules address these concerns and ensure renters are charged fairly.”

Under the new Energy Marketing and Residential Heat Sub-metering Regulation, landlords are not allowed to use a heat sub-meter to bill tenants unless the heat sub-meter is certified by Measurement Canada, under the federal Weights and Measures Act.  Currently, there are no heat sub-meters in Alberta certified by Measurement Canada. The new rules start Nov. 18 and apply both to existing heat sub-meters and new heat sub-meters.

If a heat sub-meter becomes certified in the future, landlords can use it to bill tenants as long as they clearly disclose:

• the sub-meter readings;
• the amount being charged for the energy;
• any amount being charged for administrative or other fees; and
• the method used to calculate these amounts.

If heat was previously included in the rent, starting to bill a tenant directly for heat is considered a rent increase.

“While developing this regulation, we got input from tenants, landlords, their representative organizations, and we also consulted with Measurement Canada,” Klimchuk emphasized.

“In principle, tenants paying for the actual energy they use is fairer and it rewards renters who conserve heat,” Klimchuk explained. “But renters deserve to have confidence that the devices used to measure their energy use are accurate and the amount they’re being charged is clear and understandable.”

An estimated 3,000 tenants across Alberta are currently being billed through the use of heat sub-meters.

More information on the new regulation is available at: www.servicealberta.ca

Security Deposit Interest Rate for 2010

Family hit with $12,650 fine for slum-like Calgary condos

CALGARY - A Calgary couple and their son, who managed two condominium buildings, have been fined a total of $12,650 under the Public Health Act for allowing conditions to become deplorable.

Court heard the buildings at 2121 17th St. S.W. and 1215 5th St. S.W. contained large amounts of mould on walls and other places, bed bugs, mice droppings in kitchen drawers, unlocked bars in windows, missing railings from balconies and other deficiencies in 2006 and 2007.

Provincial court Judge Catherine Skene levied fines totalling $12,650: $5,750 each to Karen Codere, 45, and Matthew Codere, 40, and $1,150 to Chris Codere, 24, after accepting a joint sentencing submission by prosecutor Rob O'Neill and the accused.

"It's important to get the message out to people," O'Neill told the judge. "If you want to make money for managing or maintaining property, you must make sure of your obligations with health regulations."

Read the story at calgaryherald.com

Realtors develop grow-op remediation standards

The government has been given a set of guidelines developed by the University of Calgary and the Alberta Real Estate Association to refurbish such homes, often contaminated with mould.

Bill Fowler, director of government relations for the association, said former grow-op houses pose many health and financial risks for tenants, including toxic moulds, water and structural damage and unsafe electrical wiring.

The government could provide protection for tenants and owners by adopting the proposed new standards, says the realtors association, which worked with researchers at the University of Calgary to develop the proposals.

"Calgary and Edmonton both have standards," said Fowler. "Some of the smaller health regions did have some standards, but again, it's that co-ordinated effort and how's it handled right from the bust, right through to the remediation. And what we've identified [in the research] is both process and standards."

Court Reduces Fine Against Edmonton Landlords:

$55,000 for health violations dropped to $15,000

Ben and Connie Seutter faced the second-highest fine for health code violations in Alberta history when a provincial court judge imposed it in October for unsafe balconies at their two north-side apartment buildings. There were also a handful of other violations.

Tenant-landlord dispute resolution service expands to central Alberta

Tenants and landlords in central Alberta now have access to a fast and inexpensive way to settle disputes outside the courtroom.

The Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) is expanding to more than 200 communities in the region including Red Deer, Drumheller, Stettler and Rocky Mountain House.

"This program has proven to be a valuable resource for both tenants and landlords in communities where it was introduced," said Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk. "It saves people time and money by avoiding a formal court process for disputes and frees up the court system for other matters."

Tenants and landlords can apply to the service to resolve disputes such as security deposits, rent arrears, evictions and damages. A tenancy dispute officer holds a hearing and considers evidence from tenants and landlords, similar to court proceedings. Decisions by officers are legally binding on both parties.

RTDRS hearings in the central Alberta region will be conducted by teleconference, allowing tenants and landlords to participate in hearings from their own home or office. The fee for service is $75 and the entire process takes between seven and 10 days for most matters.

Read the Government News Release

Province Toughens Renters' Program

April 2009

A provincial program designed to help renters keep their homes is introducing stricter regulations in the face skyrocketing costs.

The Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund was a $7-million initiative created in 2007 when vacancies were tight and enormous rent hikes were common. By last year, the program's tab had ballooned to almost $80 million.

Under regulations that took effect April 1, renters cannot have a total household income of more than $32,000 or assets of more than $7,000 in order to qualify for the program. The maximum benefit for rent supplements will be $550 per month for up to 12 months -- nine months longer than in the past.

For more information, see the full storyin the Edmonton Journal.

Sub-metering Controversy

Discussions between the Alberta government and property management company Boardwalk Rental Communities are underway over the issue of separately billing tenants for their own utilities. Service Alberta spokesman Cam Traynor said the government will let the issue be decided by the quasi-judicial residential tenancy dispute resolution service.

For more information on this issue, read the following stories in the Calgary Herald: Tenants Frustrated By Utilities Battle- March 10, 2009
Alberta Rental Giant Backs Off- March 11, 2009

New Podcasts on Laws for Landlords and Tenants

February 2009

The Legal Resource Centre presents the new series: "Ask An Expert: Learning About the Law for Landlords and Tenants in Alberta."

Listen to the first interview Ken Dong, Senior Advisor of Safe Built Environments, Environmental Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Capital Health Regionhere.

Stony Plain Receives Provincial Funding for Affordable Housing

November 2008

New affordable housing units will be developed in the Town of Stony Plain with the help of funding from the Alberta government. Fred Lindsay, Solicitor General for Alberta and MLA for Stony Plain, presented a cheque for $429,529 to Stony Plain representatives on behalf of Yvonne Fritz, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The Town of Stony Plain developed an affordable housing plan that addresses the city's specific housing priorities that will add six new affordable housing units.

Funding under the Municipal Sustainability Housing Program was targeted to high-growth, high-need communities to help address growth pressures. This investment is part of the Alberta government's five-year strategy to create more than 11,000 affordable housing units in the province by 2012 and helps address immediate concerns that were identified in the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force report.

Read the Government News Report

New Program Finds Housing for Edmonton's Homeless

October 2008

Eighty homeless individuals in Edmonton will be moved into permanent, safe housing this year, thanks to provincial funding of a Rapid Exit Shelter Program and partnership with Homeward Trust, Hope Mission and the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre.

This program will provide housing and other social supports to clients accessing the services at the Hope Mission Shelter in Edmonton. The province is providing $757,000 to implement the project in the capital city.

Under the pilot, the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre will work with Hope Mission staff in locating appropriate housing and providing needed social services for their clients. Hope Mission plans to move 80 shelter residents directly into permanent, safe housing this year. The organization also aims to reduce the number of repeat clients and length of time their clients rely on shelter services.