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More police work and research on polygamy in British Columbia are unnecessary delays that threaten to tie up the contentious issue until after next May's provincial election, Nancy Mereska, co-ordinator of an Alberta-based anti-polygamy group, said yesterday.

"Research could take another year to get through it all. I could send you a list of books as long as my arm," said Ms. Mereska, of Stop Polygamy in Canada, in an interview from Two Hills, Alta.

"I believe now that this is another delay tactic. We may not see anything happening until after the election. I'm very disappointed."

Special prosecutor Terry Robertson was appointed this month to decide whether polygamists at a religious community in Bountiful, in the southeast corner of B.C., should face criminal charges. He told The Globe and Mail last week that he intends to ask the RCMP to reopen its investigation into the polygamous community to find out whether men in authority fathered children with underage girls. He also said more research will be done into the effect of polygamy on society. He anticipated he would complete his review in the fall.

Mr. Robertson is the third B.C. lawyer to be asked in the past year for an opinion on polygamy charges.

Vancouver lawyers Richard Peck and Len Doust, in separate opinions, advised the government to seek a court ruling on whether the law on polygamy conflicts with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms before charging anyone.

Yesterday, Attorney-General Wally Oppal backed the efforts of the special prosecutor, expressing confidence in Mr. Robertson's approach.

"I'm always concerned about delays," Mr. Oppal said in an interview. "I'd like to see this thing resolved in a timely manner. At the same time, the matter is in [the] hands of Mr. Robertson and he is an experienced, competent lawyer. If he says he needs something else, I presume he needs it."

Mr. Oppal dismissed the suggestion that the provincial election could have an impact. "The election has absolutely nothing at all on whether or not we prosecute someone or not. This is not a political decision."

However, he was not as definitive in commenting on whether the matter would affect whether he runs for re-election.

He said he will decide his political future within a week to 10 days.

"I cannot say for anyone else," he said, when asked about what happens with the polygamy issue if he decides not to run again.

"But I have shown quite clearly how concerned I am with respect to this issue. It has taken up an inordinate amount of my time, but I think it is the right thing to do."

Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog, the New Democratic Party's critic for the Attorney-General, said the province should move ahead with criminal charges against polygamists at Bountiful.

"Everyone knows what the issue is; everybody knows there is sexual exploitation of children," he said in an interview.

"When this activity is taking place and the government does not prosecute expeditiously, the signal goes to the perpetrators that this is acceptable and they can get away with it. I am disappointed the process is taking even longer. I'd like to see a prosecution."

Mr. Krog also said he is concerned about delays that could arise if Mr. Oppal decides not to seek re-election. However, he has a $1 wager that Mr. Oppal will stay in politics, he said.

Bountiful, a community of more than 1,000 people in a rural area outside Creston, includes polygamist families from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and others loyal to Winston Blackmore, who was cut off from the FLDS in late 2002. The members of both groups say polygamy is an integral part of their religious beliefs.