CONFISCATE DRUG DEALERS' CARS, MLA PROPOSES

The horrors faced by parents who watch their children fall prey to
drug dealers continue to frustrate Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski.

So Jablonski is proposing a private member's bill to crack down on
drug dealers by seizing their vehicles.

"I'm going after dealers and traffickers," Jablonski said on Tuesday.

"One of the things I hear too often in Red Deer is 'I can't send my
kid down the street because it's not safe in neighbourhoods like Rosedale.'

"It's a travesty and I will do everything I can to make streets safe."

Bill 207, the Highway Traffic Safety Amendment Act (seizure of
vehicle and drug related offences), proposes a number of regulations
and allows the seizure of vehicles.

Jablonski said she can't provide details of the bill until it's seen
by caucus in the next month.

"It's a traffic safety issue. I feel if they are dealing drugs from a
car, there is a safety hazard," she said.

Jablonski wants to put a dent in the dial-a-dope networks, which
allow drug users to call dealers. The dealer then meets users.

She believes the bill may be voted on in this legislative session or
the fall session.

Jablonski is known for her landmark bill, passed last year, that
allows parents to force their children into drug detox facilities.
Youths must spend five days in detox facilities.

Earlier she said she planned to try to strengthen the bill by adding
the requirement of 90 days in a treatment facility.

Jablonski has also re-introduced a private member's motion aimed at
regulating private nursing homes. The motion asks for regulations
similar to those already in place for public nursing homes. There was
not enough time to present the motion in the past session.

Red Deer South MLA Victor Doerksen said his Innovation and Science
Department is not proposing legislation in this session. But he
continues to work on initiatives on clean energy including clean coal
technologies.

He said announcements of future projects are expected soon.