ALTA. MLA LENDS SUPPORT TO SASK. PARTY DRUG BILL

REGINA -- The Saskatchewan Party had some prominent support Friday as it
continued its efforts to get a bill passed that would help families force
their drug-addicted children into treatment facilities.

Mary Anne Jablonski, the Alberta Progressive Conservative MLA who
spearheaded the Alberta legislation that the Opposition's bill is modeled
after, was at the provincial legislature.

Jablonski said she's backing the efforts of the Saskatchewan Party because
the bill empowers parents in the face of a growing problem with drug addiction.

She said she respects NDP Community Resources Minister Joanne Crofford, who
has been reluctant to embrace the Opposition legislation but has been
"pushing the envelope" of the Child and Family Services Protection Act by
having police seize children exposed to drug abuse.

"That's a wonderful step but that doesn't leave a tool for parents to use,"
she told reporters at the provincial legislature.

The Alberta bill requires that youths who are addicted to drugs go into
mandatory detox for five days.

"If necessary, an apprehension order can be achieved through going to the
courts, by parents going to the courts. This bill is a tool for parents who
want to help their children. We already have legislation in child welfare
but not everybody is involved in the child welfare system. We have
legislation in the criminal justice system but kids don't want to be
arrested and charged with a crime before they get help. There has to be a
middle ground and the middle ground allows parents to seek help for their
children through the courts," said Jablonski.

Crofford has instructed her department to look at changes to Section 18 of
the Child and Family Services Act that could allow for mandatory treatment.

Currently, the act allows for children under the age of 16 to be
apprehended and returned to the care of either their family or a foster
home or become a ward of the Minister. She expects a report back soon on
the issues of raising the age to 18 and including a provision allowing
mandatory testing for drug-addicted youth would help reduce the problem.

Crofford said early indications are that existing legislation could be
amended to accomplish the same things as the Saskatchewan Party bill.

The Alberta legislation, which was passed in April, has not yet been
proclaimed because there are not enough treatment centres in place.

In Saskatchewan, there are no treatment centres at this point set up to
allow mandatory treatment, which Crofford said is also a factor in her
reluctance over the Opposition bill.