STELMACH VOWS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM DRUG SCOURGE

Tory Leader Wants More Police Across Alberta

Highlighting his party's crime prevention plan, Conservative Leader Ed
Stelmach vowed Thursday to protect children from exposure to a
lifetime of drug abuse in Alberta. "It's got to stop and it will stop
in the province," he thundered during a campaign stop in Lethbridge.

The Tory party leader said he will proclaim legislation, passed in
December, enabling police to enter and shut down houses used for
drugs, gang activities and prostitution. The legislation will, in
turn, protect the innocent children involved, he said.

"We have to move a lot quicker in a lot of those areas," Stelmach
said. "We know we have young children in these drug houses. We know
it's happening and yet we can't move quickly."

The campaigning premier also promised to beef up policing in Alberta
by helping municipal forces, RCMP and sheriffs recruit at least 100
more officers provincewide this year.

Lethbridge Police Chief Tom McKenzie said the drug house law probably
won't help officers to lay charges, but will aid them in shutting down
houses for drugs, gangs and prostitutes.

"It's more of a civil restraint. It gives us the ability to move
people along," he said.

McKenzie said police also welcome help on the front
lines.

"The addition of two officers here is a lot. The addition of two
officers in Edmonton and Calgary aren't even noticed."

Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson has said the city alone could use 100
more police officers over time.

Alberta ranks eighth among the provinces with 168 police officers per
100,000 people, well behind Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia.

The Liberals questioned how the Conservatives intend to bolster the
front line ranks.

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft called Stelmach's plan to address crime "a
small step in the right direction," contending it's more modest than
the proposal pitched by the Liberals last week.

Campaigning in Edmonton, Taft said the Liberals would increase the
base rate of funding for policing to municipalities, estimating this
would result in 113 new officers annually over the next three years.

NDP leader Brian Mason said his party is proposing 800 more officers
for the whole of Alberta.

"We have significantly lower numbers of police officers per capita
than the national average," he said.

Stelmach said his plan focuses on treating offenders and stopping them
from re-offending.

The province has already established new warrant apprehension teams to
track down and arrest criminals with outstanding warrants.

"Every Albertan has a right to feel safe in their community," Stelmach
said.

The crime plan was recommended last year by a safe communities task
force.

In response, the government committed to spending $156 million a year
over the next three years to keep Alberta communities safe, the Tory
leader added.