Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Another Law Made In Manitoba
More proof of Manitoba's short sightedness:
First of all, the caretaker in question clearly broke the law, was arrested and charged, and will pay whatever consequences deemed appropriate by some bleeding heart judge. This is supposed to deter caretakers from breaking the law.
Secondly, the landlords are on the hook for any property stolen, even though it should be the caretaker in this instance. This is the landlords incentive to do background checks on caretakers.
For one, this proposed law would drive up the cost of getting "quality" caretakers simply by disqualifying a percentage of those people who would take such a job.
Also, those living in buildings where there is a high turnover of caretakers would likely be left in the dark (perhaps literally) when their landlord can't find a "suitable" caretaker in a short period of time.
The problem here isn't that we need a new law. It's that we need to enforce the ones we currently have. Caretakers are put in a position of trust, and when that trust is violated they should bear the full consequences of the law.
It blows me away sometimes how this province likes to create new laws, while the justice system refuses to apply the current laws on the books. Are you listening Mr. Geortzen?
Following the arrest of a Winnipeg caretaker the province is urging landlords to check for criminal backgrounds and bond caretakers before handing over keys to apartment suites.Okay, I'm just begging for an actual reason why we'd want such legislation, somebody please help me out here!
"Most landlords already do it, but I would say it would be prudent for all landlords to take those measures," said Roger Barsy, director of the provincial residential tenancy branch. [...]
The province is taking the step after a caretaker was arrested last week, as was reported in the Sun, for allegedly letting himself into suites and stealing alcohol and women's underwear.
There are no regulations or legislation mandating the bonding and background checks on caretakers, but landlords are on the hook if cash or property disappears from tenants' suites, Barsy said. [...]
Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said the province should introduce a new law requiring the screening of all caretakers before giving them keys to tenants' suites.
First of all, the caretaker in question clearly broke the law, was arrested and charged, and will pay whatever consequences deemed appropriate by some bleeding heart judge. This is supposed to deter caretakers from breaking the law.
Secondly, the landlords are on the hook for any property stolen, even though it should be the caretaker in this instance. This is the landlords incentive to do background checks on caretakers.
For one, this proposed law would drive up the cost of getting "quality" caretakers simply by disqualifying a percentage of those people who would take such a job.
Also, those living in buildings where there is a high turnover of caretakers would likely be left in the dark (perhaps literally) when their landlord can't find a "suitable" caretaker in a short period of time.
The problem here isn't that we need a new law. It's that we need to enforce the ones we currently have. Caretakers are put in a position of trust, and when that trust is violated they should bear the full consequences of the law.
It blows me away sometimes how this province likes to create new laws, while the justice system refuses to apply the current laws on the books. Are you listening Mr. Geortzen?
Labels: Canadian Justice, Manitoba, NDP
