Pubdate: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 Red Deer Advocate Contact: http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) WHERE'S RALPH? Tears are nothing new for parents of children addicted to drugs. If you have a teenager taking crystal meth, for example, tears come with the territory. But it came down to tears in the provincial legislature on Tuesday, as Red Deer MLA Mary Anne Jablonski broke down while pleading with the Liberal Opposition for help to get her private member's bill through the house. Her tears were not enough. Liberal Leader Kevin Taft says his members would gladly co-operate with the government to get the bill passed into law quickly, but not at the expense of giving up their time for written questions in the legislature. He's entirely right in denying Jablonski's request. There's plenty of time yet for Premier Ralph Klein's Conservatives to take over the bill, insert it into their legislative agenda, and get it passed. With the promise of co-operation from the opposition, Jablonski's crusade to give parents just one more tool to get their children off the streets and into therapy would become real. It won't be the fault of Taft or the Liberals if this does not happen. The Liberals have declared they care about the plight of parents who must watch from the sidelines as teenage children take a road to quick destruction because their addictions render them incapable of making life decisions rationally. It should not be for them to give up what little force they have in the legislature, to help government backbenchers whose own party won't support their efforts. If the premier wanted parents to have the right to have their addicted teenagers forcibly removed from their current lifestyles and into a place where they can receive help, Jablonski's bill would be law within days. Tears won't get this passed. This bill has merit; the government itself should show the compassion needed to see it through the house. Since when did things like this rely on the opposition - especially in Alberta? - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager