NEW LAW WILL PROTECT CHILDREN IN DRUG CASES

A new law that will give police enhanced powers to protect children
exposed to drug manufacturing and trafficking is a good tool, say
central Alberta RCMP and school board officials.

The first legislation of its kind in Canada, the Drug Endangered
Children Act (DCA) will allow children intervention caseworkers and
police to remove children from situations where they are being drug
endangered. It takes effect Nov. 1. Police from detachments across
central Alberta attended a one-day briefing on the new act last week.

Sundre RCMP Const. Tina Millard was at the briefing.

"It is a good thing for us because it gives us new authority to
apprehend kids that we feel are in dangerous situations due to their
parent's or guardian's drug activities," said Millard. "It gives us
more authority to remove immediately. We are taking them out of the
situation in order to facilitate putting them in a better environment."

The provincial government says the new law is the result of research
that found that drug endangered children are at high risk for chronic
respiratory disorders, neurological damage, cancer and physical,
emotional and sexual abuse.

Lisa Nisbet, spokesperson for Alberta Children's Services, says
children taken into custody under the act will receive immediate
medical and other help.

"The child intervention worker or the police would apprehend the
child under the DCA. And then they would fall under other child
welfare legislation," said Nisbet. "What it would do is the child
would receive immediate services, so if you were a child that was
apprehended you would receive medical treatment to assess any risk or
injuries that have happened from that environment. It's taking care
of their immediate health and welfare concerns."

"If they can be returned within two days, they would be returned to a
parent or guardian. If that's not possible, then they would be
transferred under the Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act. Whether
that's going into an extended family home or perhaps going into
foster care, those decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis."

The new law applies to all persons under 18 years of age, she said.

"These kids are being abused and they need our protection," said
Children's Services Minister Heather Forsyth. "The issue of children
being exposed to the dangers of drug manufacturing and trafficking is
becoming more and more common."

Innisfail RCMP Sgt. Lyle Marianchuk said the new act is "going to
help the child".

"It's clear when police go into these types of situations where there
is a meth lab or drug cultivation, it is endangering the child," he
said. "It's going to help family services. It's one more tool to get
that child out of that environment. It's one more tool for the
benefit of the children."

Sundre RCMP Sgt. Percy Leipnitz also applauded the new legislation.
"I think it will be good for us and help us out," said Leipnitz. "The
biggest thing is it is good for kids. We come across stuff like that
and we can at least do something for the children to get them out of
that environment."

Didsbury RCMP Cpl. Kevin Fischer called the new law "another good
tool for us to utilize when dealing with children in need".

"There will be situations from time to time where it will be of
assistance to us, for extra authorities. We will be able to utilize
it from time to time when required," he said.

Olds RCMP Const. Duffy Quintin also attended last week's briefing on
the new act. He called the legislation a positive move.

"It will certainly be a good thing for any children who are found in
crime scenes involving drugs," said Quintin. "Now the difference with
the new act is we have the authority to bring child and family
services with us if we have prior knowledge.

"We can take the children out of there right away. It's certainly
another tool we have to help protect children that might be at risk."

Chinook's Edge superintendent Jim Gibbons also applauded the new law,
calling it a "good thing for the kids".

"I think Children's Services ministry is really focused on making
things better for children, and of course we always work very closely
with them," said Gibbons. "We know that in order for kids to be
successful in school and to learn they need to be safe and cared for
at home. That's the partnership generally between school and parents,
but sometimes government has to step in where kids may not be safe
and cared for."

Chinook's Edge school division includes schools in Olds, Sundre,
Didsbury, Innisfail and Carstairs