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Looks at an upcoming general election in Alberta and discusses the views of analysts and political operatives. Ralph Klein's Progressive Conservatives; Laurence Decore's Liberals; The issue of the province's $20 billion debt; Descriptions of both campaign styles; Insinuations included in a position paper titled `Education for All'; Talk about raising Alberta's corporate and personal income taxes; More. INSETS: Down and out in Redmonton, by L.G.;The old style lingers on, by L.G..

Focuses on logging trucks in Alberta. Concern for overloaded logging trucks, according to Alvin Moroz, an engineer with Alberta Transportation and Utilities; The cooperation of truck manufacturers to explain their individual rating capacities; The distance that a truck needs to stop safely; Brief statistics on accidents involving logging trucks; Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., owner of peace River Pulp, starting its own safety program.

Discusses how Canadians view peacekeeping as a necessity. Comments from Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Henry (ret.) that the benefits are exaggerated; Henry's paper in January issue of `Forum'; Canadian peacekeeping origin as a way of brokering between Russia and United States; How war-fighting capabilities of Canada's army could be destroyed; Reduction in military spending; Questions Canadian interest in peacekeeping missions; No way peacekeepers can prevent another war.

Reports news briefs relating to Canada for November 16, 1998. The effect of Hurricane Mitch on the peregrine falcon being tracked with a satellite transceiver on its leg by the Canadian Wildlife Service; The report released by provincial Energy Minister Steve West on the cause of the electric power outages experienced by Calgary; Reporters and newsroom employees of Southam Inc.'s `Calgary Herald' voting to join the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union; More.

Reports on the closing in 1997 of five Alberta community newspapers in the Red Deer area owned by Record Publishing. Names of the papers; What the closings are attributed to; Papers which will attempt to fill the gap left by the defunct papers; Comments from editor Rob Gilgan about the importance of local businesses to the success of a community newspaper; How the newspaper industry has responded.

Relates that the Canada West Foundation has released four papers with solutions to some of the conundrums posed by Quebec's potential secession. Ideas in the four `Reconfederation Papers' including provincial vetoes, sovereignty negotiation and partition; Foundation President David Elton's comments on why a reconfederation council is needed.

Reports that officials of the Quebec government visited the offices of the `Ottawa Sun' newspaper regarding the paper's role in the October 1995 referendum campaign. The government's suspicions that the paper had illegally aided the No side; The Elections Quebec investigators, who identified themselves as former Surete du Quebec police officers.

Reports that the health policy development branch of Alberta Health floated a paper entitled `Decisions about Tomorrow: Directives for Your Health Care.' How the paper solicited public input for a law regulating so-called `advance directives'; How concerned observers are afraid the provincial government may use the initiative to move closer to legalized euthanasia.

Speculates on the contention of Sunera Thobani, Nancy Riche and Robert Evans that release of Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell's government discussion paper, `Enabling Society,' will imperil the Tories' chances of re-election. Social policy consultants in Ottawa who have seen the paper will not reveal its contents for fear of reprisals; Indications of what is in store from former federal Health and Welfare Minister Benoit Bouchard.

Focuses on the efforts of the group Campaign 2000 to convince Canada's politicians to create a huge new income-redistribution program. The efforts coming in the wake of the decision among Canada's premiers, to unify child benefits offered by the federal and provincial governments; Provisions contained in a Campaign 2000 discussion paper on child poverty; Economist Christopher Sarlo's evidence that child poverty in Canada is declining.

Reports on the Albertan proposal to further privatize its provincial parks. The irrational fear by some Albertans of the idea of provincial parks being run by private companies under government inspection; Comments of Bruce Russell who operates campgrounds at Thunder Lake and Carson Pegasus provincial parks; The leaked information from an Alberta Environment discussion paper examining which of the provincial parks can best be managed by the private sector.

Reports on the Northern River Basins Study indicating that pollution levels in Alberta's northern river systems are dropping. Funding of the study; Comments of James Hole of Grand Alberta Paper Ltd.

Relates that the Reform Party of Canada (RPC) is beginning to assemble its contingency plan in case Quebec should decide to separate. The draft paper entitled `20 Positives, 20 Negatives,' which reflects what RPC leader Preston Manning calls the party's `two-track' approach to the Quebec issue; The high price for separation that the RPC is proposing.

Reports on Jean Charest of the Progressive Conservatives in Parliament, in Canada's release of a discussion paper intended to revive the party. Prior internal restructuring of the party; Speculation on how the party would position itself ideologically.

Announces that in Canada, while some used commodities, mainly paper, are becoming more valuable, economists say the recycling industry has a long way to go before it can support itself. How much Alberta's Tire Recycling Management Board announced it would spend on recycling; Why the future for recycling seems dim.

Announces that in Canada, Justice Minister Allan Rock questions whether criminal conduct should be excused if the criminal acted in accordance with his customs or beliefs. `Cultural defense'; How a 31-page `consultation paper' raises 14 possible amendments to the 102-year-old Criminal Code.

States that in Canada, the Teledemocracy computer system Nova Scotia-based Maritime Telephone and Telegraph (MT&T) used to resister and count ballots was so infested with glitches, it made party organizers long for old-fashioned paper ballots. Problems before the election; What the system was supposed to do.

Examines the differences in tax burdens between the provinces of Alberta and Ontario. Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's five speeches on Alberta's tax advantages over Ontario; Headlines in Toronto papers and praise from Ontario executives and think tanks; Central Canada as a taxpayer's nightmare; Klein's meeting with Hugh Bolton, Coopers & Lybrand; Corporations which have opened head offices or corporate divisions in Alberta; Bill 79, Ontario's employment equity legislation.

Cites a background paper issued by the federal government on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (awaiting royal assent) which found the act significantly broadens Ottawa's power to block projects deemed ecologically unsound. The act also appears to enhance the federal government's ability to scrutinize projects related to the development of natural resources. Examples of Ottawa's over-reaching its constitutional powers; Details.

Cites figures from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics which found that between 1986 and 1991 charges against youths for violent crimes jumped from 9,200 to 19,000. Leaked information from a federal Justice Department discussion paper on young offenders found, however, that the murder rate among youths stayed the same between 1986 and 1991. Public pressure may have triggered more charges against youths; Belief young people go unpunished; Details.