CONFERENCE TO DEVELOP CRYSTAL METH STRATEGIES

Premier To Be Host Of June Meeting

Not only did Premier Lorne Calvert get his wish for an
intergovernmental conference on crystal methamphetamine, he will also
get to host the event.

At their meeting in Lloydminster, Western premiers have agreed that
their Health, Justice and Public Safety ministers will meet in June in
Regina to develop strategies on education, prevention, treatment and
policing for the highly addictive and dangerous drug.

In a telephone interview, Calvert said the meeting is an opportunity
to pool resources and deal with a problem that crosses borders.

"If there are approaches that others can bring to the table that are
shown to be more effective, we're certainly willing to pick up and
learn from them," said Calvert.

"The higher the level, including premiers, signals to the public
service -- and I hope it signals to the community -- that we're taking
this issue seriously and we want something done."

The premiers of the four western provinces, with Alberta Deputy
Premier Shirley McClellan sitting in for an ailing Ralph Klein, and
the three territories also agreed to jointly lobby the federal
government for regulatory and legislative changes that will allow
stiffer sentences for crystal meth dealers and tighter controls over
the drug ingredients.

That issue will also be raised when all premiers meet in the Council
of the Federation in August.

Calvert went into the three-day meeting in Lloydminster with drug
addiction and agriculture as his main priorities.