CRYSTAL METH REPORT DESTINED TO DUSTY SHELF

The final report from the Premier's Task Force on Crystal Meth is
bold, ambitious and most surprisingly of all, laden with a sense the
Alberta Tory government might just proceed to tackle a serious social
problem with unprecedented vigour.

"The government has to support it," declared Red Deer North MLA Mary
Anne Jablonski, the only elected MLA on the task force committee.

But hold on to your hats folks - we can't for a second ignore the
fact that we live in Toryland, Alberta - the land where the bottom
line rules and quick decisive action is reserved only for approving
more oil sands projects.

Premier Ralph Klein, hubby of Colleen who headed the task force,
loves it. But Ralph will soon be ex-premier, and marooned to the
boardrooms of think tanks with some sort of fuzzy wuzzy directorship
title. He will no longer have any say on his wife's excellent report.

Colleen was adamant the 83-recommendation won't gather dust on some
forgotten shelf.

But the shelf is waiting, and chances are more than reasonable the
fabulous crystal meth report will have a home there for a very, very long time.

Already, there is some controversy in its pages, a type of
troublesome fly in the ointment that makes government bureaucrats -
especially lawyers - cringe.

Some legal eagles are suggesting there are at least three
recommendations in the report that are a threat to the basic right of
all Canadians that they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty -
a fundamental principle of the Canadian justice system.

In two of the recommendations, the committee asks the legal system to
take away existing sentencing options - including conditional
sentences - from anyone accused of a crystal meth or drug offence.

Another recommendation goes further. It suggests that anyone accused
of the manufacturing, possession, trafficking and use of crystal meth
should have their bail rights taken away and be incarcerated before trial.

While some would argue that anyone associated with any wrongful use
of crystal meth should have the book thrown at them, others will
passionately counter it is a clear violation of the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms. Defence lawyers will certainly have a field day with
this one, and government lawyers will be hard pressed to pour over
legal books trying to justify the will of the Alberta government.

The will of the Tory government will certainly be pressed with this
meth report. Jablonski, one of the very few Tory MLAs with a proven
heartfelt commitment to social issues, told the Express last week she
believes there is the will in her government to press ahead.

However, big bucks will be needed - and there lays the problem in a
province that has witnessed social problems gallop out of control -
particularly housing and poverty - alongside the current oil boom.

Colleen Klein conceded at last week's press conference that many of
the report's recommendations will be costly to implement. She did not
give any estimates on how costly they will be.

But on the same day, Health Minister Iris Evans confirmed the
report's 300 proposed beds for detoxification and treatment will cost
about $100,000 each - a total of $30 million.

That Is Just The Beginning.

The report also asks the Alberta Solicitor General and Public
Security department to establish Drug Undercover Street teams (DUST)
in seven provincial regions, expand police canine programs, increase
support for analytical resources to drug intelligence teams,
establish province-wide law enforcement teams to focus on gangs and
organized crime members, and create full-time Emergency Response
Teams/Tactical Teams in Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary.

That is a lot of extra police resources in a province where many
municipalities are screaming for more staff just to keep up with day
to day law enforcement issues brought on by a growing population
taking advantage of the booming economy.

Crystal meth? Yes, it is a sexy issue that makes a nice flavour for
the day for government bureaucrats wanting to beef up resumes but it
is hardly the issue that forces conservative-minded politicians to
want to instantly open up government coffers.

Think for a second how hard officials at the Red Deer Regional
Airport have been trying over the past several years to get the
province to put up funds for upgrades at the airport.

That may not be a typical social issue but it certainly depicts how
difficult it is to get money from the provincial government on
matters that are considered vital to a specific group that has a
critical issue that needs to be addressed.

And if we do speak of a typical social issue, think once more about
how this provincial government has dragged its feet on the housing
crisis for the working poor.

In recent months, we have never heard Red Deer Mayor Morris
Flewwelling speak with such passion on an issue he insists is clearly
a provincial government responsibility.

Sadly, the likelihood of the report getting anything more than scant
attention in the upcoming months does not look promising.

Those seeking the premier's job in the upcoming leadership race will
put the province's economic future first and foremost on their
platforms. Maybe housing and labour will get a mention but not this
report. And chances are good it won't get that much attention after the race.

Whether Colleen Klein wants to admit it or not, the crystal meth
report is destined to be the great, bold, ambitious and socially
innovative exercise that never had a chance. That is a big pity.

The Jonathan Clatter Award of Merit: Best wishes and a speedy
recovery to Mayor Morris Flewwelling who recently underwent minor
surgery. Knowing Morris, it won't take him long to get back into the
swing of things.