MINISTER LAUDS SUPREME COURT RULING

Alberta's justice minister is praising a Supreme Court of Canada
ruling that upholds Ontario's proceeds of crime legislation.

On Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 7-0 that the Ontario
legislation is constitutional in the case of university student Robin
Chatterjee, who challenged the law after officers seized his car and
$29,000 in cash in March 2003, believing he was involved with a
marijuana grow-op.

That decision strengthens Alberta's Bill 50, said Justice Minister
Alison Redford, which allows the province to seize property used for
or obtained by crime then auction it off.

"I'm very, very pleased," she said. "We believe this legislation
targets the business of crime and at the end of the day it is a
business. That's why many of these gangs and criminal organizations
have undertaken the activities they have."

Alberta was one of eight provinces waiting for the Supreme Court
ruling to see how it would affect their own, similar laws. Since Bill
50 came into effect in December, the province has seized more than $5
million in vehicles, property, cash and drugs.

"We're seizing cars with hidden compartments and bullet-proof glass,
cars that have been used to try and run down police officers.

Money raised through the auctions will likely go toward helping
victims of crime.

"At this point we have to make a policy decision as to whether (the
money) goes into the existing crime victims' compensation fund or we
use the money to support more community initiatives," said Redford.