WHERE WAS B.C. GOV'T, ASKS NDP?

CONFERENCE: Victoria only manages to send civil servants

REGINA -- NDP Leader Carole James says B.C.'s Liberal government should have
found a cabinet minister -- or even an MLA -- to join western provincial
officials hammering out a joint battle plan for their war on crystal meth.

Solicitor-General Rich Coleman was scheduled to attend Friday's one-day
gathering, but cancelled at the last minute to attend the funeral of a
Vernon Mountie who drowned in Okanagan Lake.

That meant that B.C. joined the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in sending
civil servants, rather than cabinet ministers, to the talks.

B.C.'s contingent included provincial health officer Perry Kendall.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta sent both their justice and health
ministers; the Yukon sent its Justice minister.

Last month, Premier Gordon Campbell branded crystal meth a serious problem
and agreed to joint western-provincial action that included the meeting in
Regina.

James argued yesterday that B.C. should have insisted on ministerial
representation at the meeting to demonstrate B.C.'s commitment in tackling a
drug problem that is devastating the province.

"[Campbell] could have sent a number of ministers," James said. "It's a big
mistake not to have someone there representing our province when a large
percentage of the increased use is occurring in our province."

Mike Morton, Campbell's press secretary, said "bad timing" was to blame,
noting that Coleman was occupied and that Campbell is focused on assembling
the new cabinet he will unveil Thursday.

Brenda Locke -- minister of state for mental health and addiction services,
who was handling the crystal-meth file for B.C. -- was defeated in last
month's election.

During April and May, thousands of people turned out for community forums on
crystal meth in Kamloops, Victoria, Surrey and Vancouver. Some comments
received after The Province-sponsored forums:

"Thank you to [Province reporter] Matthew Ramsey for opening this subject to
the public. What a menace this drug is! There is hope if we all get together
to help."

"My wife and I brought our two teenage sons with the hope it would make it
easier for them to make the right decision when the time comes. Thank you."

"Thank you so much. I no longer feel so terribly alone, and you have given
me the courage to find my son and try one more time!"