NEW PROVINCIAL LAW PROTECTS DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN

Parents Who Expose Their Children to Drugs Can Now Be Charged Under
an Alberta Law.

The first of its kind in the nation, the Drug Endangered Children
Act, which came into effect Nov. 1, now gives power to RCMP and Child
Intervention to seize and hold youth found living in a house where
drugs are used, sold or produced. This can include marijuana and
methamphetamine labs.

"Drugs use is increasing and innocent kids are being caught in the
middle," said Lisa Nisbet, Alberta Children's Services. "We need the
act to ensure we can protect kids from these incidents."

The charge will carry a maximum fine of $25,000 or two years in jail.

"This act specifically defines who is at risk and because it defines
it, it recognises that's these kids are victims of child abuse and
sets out a course of action and response on how we should be handling
it," said Nisbet. "We are hearing that this is happening more
frequently in Alberta and that we need to have a response and do it
appropriately."

If, after two days, the child cannot be returned to the parents
safely, then the child will receive services under the Child, Youth
and Family Enhancement Act.

The law could impact Vulcan County too.

"It could happen because the County is such a big area and the people
who are into these sorts of illegal activity are looking for spots
where people can't see them because there are no neighbours," said
Const. Carol Blannin. "We have had some grow ops in the County we've
had to go into and take down."

She said at some point, children could be involved and thats when the
new law would be used.

Heather Forsyth, Children's Services minister spearheaded the
legislation and used a U.S. model with a similar law as an example.

Nisbet said, "There is no grey area anymore."