Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Social Programs committee meeting and take in a presentation of the Crack Busters program that is offered in the city of Yellowknife. It was a very informative meeting and I would like to thank the committee for hosting the meeting and the Salvation Army and the Tree of Peace addictions counsellors, as well as the men enrolled in the Crack Busters program, for taking the time to talk to us about the program and the insidious nature of crack cocaine.

Mr. Speaker, at this meeting, I learned that crack cocaine is not like the other drugs that we have had to deal with in the Northwest Territories up to this point. Unlike other drugs that have a physical addiction, crack cocaine is a psychological addiction. It works on your mind. It's all you think about and you just want to find that first high you got the first time you tried it. You can try it once and get hooked. Guess what, Mr. Speaker? The drug dealers love that. They love it so much, they would give out free samples because they know you will be back to buy more. They know you will sell everything you own, you will destroy your marriage, and you will steal from your friend's family or your workplace to buy some.

Back in November, I attended a meeting with 200 people who came out to talk on the drug problem in Inuvik. When the talk turned to drug dealers, all I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that with the mood of the crowd it's a good thing that no one brought a rope. The Crack Busters program has been running in Yellowknife since last September. It appears to be a success. The Tree of Peace and the Salvation Army are to be commended for their support and championing of this program.