MOM BATTLES TO GET SON

A Calgary mother hopes increasing public awareness about her two-year
fight to regain custody of her son from a series of Oregon foster
homes will put pressure on a U.S. judge to finally let him come home.

Lisa Kirkman went on CNN on Friday to explain she hasn't been able to
regain custody of her 12-year-old son, Noah, since he was stopped in
an Oregon town in the summer of 2008 for riding his bike without a
helmet. He was apprehended because he was staying with his
stepfather, who the state did not consider his legal guardian.

She has also been speaking regularly with MPs from different parties
who all agree it's time for U.S. authorities to return Noah to Canada.

"This is a sovereignty issue. This is the U.S. taking one of our
citizens, a child, and saying, 'we're not sure Canada can handle
their own social services', " she said.

Kirkman said Oregon authorities became concerned when they discovered
Noah had social services files in Canada, including in B.C. She said
the files were open to enable the boy, who has special needs, which
include a severe form of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to
access special mental health programs.

The most recent ruling by Lane County Circuit Judge Kip Leonard said
he wouldn't consider sending Noah home until the school year ends.
That wait is excruciating to Kirkman, who wasn't even allowed to call
her son on his birthday, but it offers a glimmer of hope to her lawyers.

"He said in court that he was not going to consider Noah's return
until the school year is concluded and at least that indicates he's
thinking about Noah's return," said Tony Merchant, her Regina-based lawyer.

Calgary Conservative MP Rob Anders said he has volunteered to escort
the boy back to Canada if asked and has discussed the return with
people from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office.

Kirkman said she thinks the judge might be hung up on her personal
beliefs. She has edited marijuana-related magazines and calls herself
an anti-prohibition activist.