PREMIERS TO DISCUSS CRYSTAL METH

Calvert to host conference on drug problem

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

At their meeting in Lloydminster, western premiers 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 Thursday, 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, who will serve as host of the meeting.

"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 leaders 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.

The other leaders also agreed to support Saskatchewan's position that
changes are needed to federal-provincial farm support programs. The province
wants the federal government to pick up more of the cost than its current 60
per cent share.

Calvert said he expects the issue to be raised a great deal in the federal
election that is likely on its way.

The perennial topic of BSE and the continuing closure of the United States
border to Canadian cattle also prompted premiers to reconfirm their support
for expanding the beef slaughtering and processing capacity in Canada.

The premiers also put an emphasis on a new transportation strategy for
Western Canada, and Calvert said he's interested in the idea of expanding
inland container ports.

One surprise issue for Calvert was concerns raised by British Columbia and
Yukon about the mountain pine beetle and spruce bark beetle, pests which
have devastated forests in those jurisdictions.

"When I first saw that on the agenda I thought, 'What in the world is this
about?' Well, this ought to be a national concern," he said.

Premiers agreed to continue efforts to stop the spread of the pests and
backed B.C.'s call for more federal help to deal with the issue.