AGENDA RELEASED FOR CRYSTAL METH SUMMIT

The broad agenda for the Western/Northern crystal meth meeting was released today by meeting chair Premier Lorne Calvert.

"The agenda emphasizes very much that this is a working meeting," Calvert said. "While we have time on the agenda for presentations by experts, more time is being left open for discussion among the Ministers and the North Dakota Attorney General. At the end of the day, I want to be able to report a solid, collective working plan to prevent this issue from getting any bigger."

The agenda begins at 8 a.m. Friday June 10th with an overview of the findings of the Western Summit on Meth Amphetamine by the chief of the Summit, followed by presentations from the federal and provincial Drugs Working Group and the police.

"The intent of the meeting is to learn from each other and share best practices, and to develop an action plan," Calvert continued. "We will hear from each jurisdiction what the problems are and what solutions work best."

Chief Alphonse Bird of the Federation of Saskatchewan of Indian Nations will address the group over lunch, to provide an Aboriginal perspective on crystal meth and other addictions. The afternoon is devoted to presentations and discussions on prevention, education and treatment. At 4:30, the meeting will conclude with a news conference chaired by the Premier and the release of a communiqué outlining further actions.

"People have been hard at work for some time getting ready for this, and there is plenty of interest and enthusiasm to get together and pursue this problem more aggressively," Calvert concluded.

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