Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Crime Stoppers Association is an incorporated non-profit society with registered charitable status. The association is run by a board of unpaid volunteered directors to assist law enforcement, in particular, the RCMP in the Northwest Territories, to protect and prevent crime.
One of the principle methods of doing so is to publicly solicit and reward anonymous tips, which lead to the arrests of offenders, and often, the recovery of property and seizure of contraband.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide the services of members to act in an advisory capacity, Crimestoppers solicits it's funding from private individuals, businesses and service organizations, without whose support the program would not be possible. Presently the Northwest Territories Crimestoppers Association has active programs in Iqaluit and Yellowknife and would welcome the participation of other communities in the Territories.
It has recently posted a substantial reward of $10,000 for information regarding the disappearance of Charlene Catholique. On July of 1990, Charlene Catholique, then 15 years old and a resident of Lutselk'e arrived in Yellowknife to attend the Dene Assembly in Dettah. While she was in Yellowknife, she travelled to Fort Rae to visit with friends. Charlene was reported missing having last been seen in Fort Rae on or around July 22, 1990. She has not been located to date, and the police feel the clues which will identify the person or persons responsible for Charlene's disappearance will be found in the community of Fort Rae.
The police are grateful for the cooperation and care exhibited by the people of Fort Rae to date, but are hopeful the sizable Crimestoppers reward will spur someone on to reveal some clue previously omitted. Due to the efforts of R.C.M.P. Staff Sergeant, Vern White, who has recently been transferred to another jurisdiction, and the volunteer members of the Board of Directors, the N.W.T. Crimestoppers Association has just been awarded an award for most improved Crimestoppers unit in North America, for 1995. This is indeed a notable accomplishment. 1996 promises to be as successful as 1995, as of June of this year, there were 117 anonymous tips and 9 reward payments totalling $3,825, leading to 22 arrests, recovery of $16,375 in property and the seizure of $85,520 in drugs. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that all members will join me in congratulating the Northwest Territories Crimestoppers Association and thanking them for their contribution. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause