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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..

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.

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.

Reports on charges filed against former Canadian pop star Terry Jacks, who resides in British Columbia, for assaulting his wife Maggi with a dishrag. Mention of British Columbia's zero-tolerance policy on domestic abuse; Jacks' opinion that his wife, who continues to reside with Jacks, as of April, 2001, is using the accusation as leverage in the couple's divorce; How Jacks, founder of the organization Environmental Watch, believes the case makes a mockery of women who get beaten up.

Reports on charges filed against former Canadian pop star Terry Jacks, who resides in British Columbia, for assaulting his wife Maggi with a dishrag. Mention of British Columbia's zero-tolerance policy on domestic abuse; Jacks' opinion that his wife, who continues to reside with Jacks, as of April, 2001, is using the accusation as leverage in the couple's divorce; How Jacks, founder of the organization Environmental Watch, believes the case makes a mockery of women who get beaten up.

Reports on charges filed against former Canadian pop star Terry Jacks, who resides in British Columbia, for assaulting his wife Maggi with a dishrag. Mention of British Columbia's zero-tolerance policy on domestic abuse; Jacks' opinion that his wife, who continues to reside with Jacks, as of April, 2001, is using the accusation as leverage in the couple's divorce; How Jacks, founder of the organization Environmental Watch, believes the case makes a mockery of women who get beaten up.

Focuses on the issue of gay foster parents in Canada. The link between foster parents and Delwin Vriend's suit against Alberta for not including sexual orientation as a protected category in the Individual's Rights Protection Act; The efforts of an Edmonton, Alberta lesbian to continue as a foster parent; The policy of Edmonton Social Services which allows foster children in natural families only.

Asserts that the issue of access to children for non-custodial parents is not given equal time in the courts. Deadbeat dads, or fathers who withhold child support payments, as the preferred focus; This focus as misdirected; The committee formed by Alberta Justice Minister Jon Havelock to review the province's maintenance enforcement program; The link between support payments and access; Calgary-based Equitable Child Maintenance and Access Society.

Examines foster care in Canada as it relates to the issue of gay parents. The case of a 37-year-old woman in Edmonton, Alberta, denied a foster child after 17 years of foster parenting and 60 children, due to the breakup of her marriage and decision to live with her female partner; Liberal Social Services critic Linda Sloan's complaints about minister Shirley McClellan's inaction; Comments from Victor Doerksen, supporting the government's stand.