Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jun 2006
Source: Drayton Valley Western Review (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Bowes Publishers Limited
Contact: http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/contact.php
Website: http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/980
Author: Courtney Whalen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

NEXT STEP FOR TASK FORCE

With public consultation coming to a close the Premier's Task Force on
Crystal Meth, which includes Drayton Valley Mayor Diana McQueen, is
ready to move on to the next step in bringing forward recommendations
to the province.

The task force, created by Premier Ralph Klein in October of 2005 and
co-chaired by his wife Colleen and Dr. Bob Westbury, has spent the
last few months travelling the province gathering public input before
coming up with a series of recommendations to develop a province-wide
strategy to combat the impacts of crystal meth.

The consultation was broken down into six specific areas where the
task force was looking for ideas including, communities (which was
hosted in Drayton Valley), youth, aboriginal, industry, law
enforcement and healing and McQueen said the feedback they've received
has been excellent.

"We'll have some great recommendations that are coming out of this and
they're coming from Albertans," she said, noting that turnout at the
public consultations was always good and the task force has also
received a lot of ideas and comments from their website.

With the premier's announcement that he will call for a leadership
race in the fall of this year, McQueen said the timeline for the meth
task force was moved up considerably so they would be able to present
their recommendations to the government while Klein was still leader
of the party. This way she said the task force hopes that some
progress can start being made on the recommendations as soon as possible.

"The hope is that some dollars would be set aside so the
recommendations can be put forward regardless of who is premier," she
said.

She feels the six focus groups did a good job of covering most of the
issues surrounding the problem of crystal meth and talking to
Albertans who are dealing with the drug in their job, home or
community will guide the task force as they work on their draft
results. "I think the people we consulted with will really see their
ideas reflected," she said, noting that the task force will work with
their consultants over the summer to get the recommendations ready.

McQueen said feedback is still welcome from anyone with thoughts on
the subject and people can either contact her directly or fill out a
feedback form on the task force's website at www.gov.ab.ca/premier/cmeth
until July 1.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin