Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk briefly about the change in attitude in dealing with the RCMP. I would like to give Members an example of how the relationship is changing between the community and the RCMP. Over the holiday season in December of 1998, the RCMP and the chief and mayor got together to see how we could limit the amount of alcohol coming into Rae-Edzo, for the purpose of bootlegging. It was decided that the RCMP would have checkstops set up and would stop all vehicles. This one step alone on New Year's Eve prevented approximately $5,000 worth of alcohol from entering the community.
The local RCMP are getting out into the communities more and encouraging residents to call if they know of people bringing in large quantities of alcohol. This again is having a positive affect by reducing the amount of alcohol coming into the communities. These two initiatives are having a very positive impact on the community. Less alcohol in the community means more residents are looking after their families and realizing the need for alcohol is not the best thing.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the efforts the local RCMP are doing to make my home community a better and safer place to live for our children and families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.