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Reports on the decision of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein to allow social workers to place children in foster homes made up off homosexuals if they deemed it necessary. How conservatives in the government reacted; The informal policy prior to Klein's decision, which did not allow homosexuals to be foster parents; Comments from Lyle Oberg, Social Services minister; Possible reasons that social workers would place children with homosexual foster parents. INSET: New pressure to spend money, by Brian Mulawka..

Focuses on opthamologist Howard Gimbel's provision of services. His plan to offer speedy cataract surgery to patients who would pay a set fee per eye while those who could not provide the fee would have a waiting period; Alberta Health determination that a doctor cannot be in both public and private systems; Provision for Gimbel to perform surgery for patients from outside the province but not within it.

Discusses a report released by Alberta Health which suggests that Albertans may soon have to pay for some services currently covered by medicare. Coming shift to more private health care; Details of report; Debate about extent to which government can cover health insurance; Role of regional health authorities; Objections to report; Increasing role of private companies; Why provinces follow the Canada Health Act.

States that a report from the Alberta Science and Research Authority (ASRA) in 1997 has called for increased investment in research and development. The Science, Research and Information Technology ministry and its head Lorne Taylor; How Alberta ranks with the other provinces for research and development investment; What the new goals for investment are; Making knowledge the fourth pillar of the economy; Comments from Taylor.

Looks at a bill in the Alberta legislature which would enable grandparents to seek visitation rights of their grandchildren should the parents try to limit visitation access. The efforts of Heather Forsyth in passing the legislation; Comments from Forsyth; Children that would be impacted by the legislation; Fears from parental advocates that the bill will take away parent's rights; The question of parents deliberately choosing to restrict access for grandparents.