Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is in Vancouver, B.C., todayto share his polygamy game plan with Wally Oppal, provincial attorney general, and talk to a community group worried about the welfare of women and children in the polygamist enclave at Bountiful, B.C..

There is a growing call from the public and some media for Canadian officials to crack down on the practice of polygamy and investigate allegations of sexual exploitation within the community, which is home to two polygamist groups.

One is a branch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which practices a 19th century version of Mormonism that includes plural marriage.

The other consists of followers of Winston Blackmore, whose family founded Bountiful in 1947 and later formed ties to the FLDS in Utah. Blackmore was expelled from the church in 2002, an event that split Bountiful into two camps. About 1,000 people live in the community northeast of the Idaho border.

"This attorney general is more inclined to take some action, to look into Bountiful and what's been going on there with [Winston] Blackmore and the FLDS church," Shurtleff said.

The FLDS church, led by fugitive Warren Jeffs, counts some 8,000 members in the twin border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. It also has outposts in Eldorado, Texas, Mancos, Colo., and other locales in the U.S. and Mexico. Jeffs is wanted on Arizona charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor and a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Shurtleff also wants to make sure he can count on the full cooperation of the Canadian government in the event Jeffs turns up there.

Over the past three years, Shurtleff has followed two tracks in dealing with the contentious issue: pursuing charges in select cases involving such crimes as bigamy and sex with a minor, but also extending social services to polygamist communities.

Oppal, who took office in May, says he has been inundated with letters from throughout Canada urging him to investigate Bountiful.

He said he'll focus on the alleged sexual exploitation of women and children.

"I'm concerned as well with polygamy but polygamy isn't a priority in relation to the other charges," Oppal said. "I view them as being much more serious."

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have investigated allegations regarding the polygamist community several times over the years but has not substantiated any wrongdoing. It currently has a "global" investigation open, Oppal said.

However, he said, the success of any case hinges on witnesses willing to testify in court.

"Our problem is the same as yours, the circling of the wagons and lack of willingness to come forward and testify," Oppal said, adding that some former inhabitants are now stepping up.

Among those pushing Oppal to take action is the University Women's Club of Vancouver, which convened the Bountiful Roundtable, a consortium of women's organizations, churches and other groups concerned about polygamy. It is focused on allegations that Bountiful children receive a substandard education, sexual exploitation and cross-border trafficking in young women.

The consortium also will meet with Shurtleff today. "We want to hear what things have been done in his area that have been successful and what hasn't worked," said Mary Plant, Vancouver chapter chairwoman.