Archived News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

May 12, 2004

Manitoba's Pilot Project To Combat Exploitation Of Children Online Poised To Go National

Manitoba's Pilot Project To Combat Exploitation Of Children Online Poised To Go National


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Successes of Cybertip.ca Outlined In First Operational Report

Attorney General Gord Mackintosh and Lianna McDonald, executive director of Child Find Manitoba, today welcomed the deputy prime minister's announcement making Cybertip.ca, Manitoba's pilot project to help prevent the online sexual exploitation of children, the national tip line. In addition, Child Find Manitoba announced the release of Taking Stock – A Year Later, an examination of the first year of operations of Cybertip.ca.

“We are very pleased the federal government has indicated their intention to make Cybertip.ca Canada's national tip line by providing additional funding,” said Mackintosh. “This tool will help counter child pornography on the Internet and help bring online child predators and pornographers to justice.”

“Clearly, the fact that Cybertip.ca received over 500 reports in its first year of operations, resulting in law enforcement executing five arrests and as many as 100 web sites hosting child pornography being shut down, emphasizes the need for this service for Canadians,” said McDonald.

Child Find Manitoba's Cybertip.ca was a project created through the Children Online Protection Committee and is operated by Child Find Manitoba. The committee's membership includes representation from provincial government departments, police, community, and representatives from the computer industry and Internet service providers. Cybertip.ca is a result of extensive collaboration over the last 24 months between government, law enforcement, industry and non-profit groups concerned with the personal safety of children on the Internet.

Cybertip.ca allows the public to report potentially illegal content and activities on the Internet, such as child pornography and luring, through an online reporting form (http://www.cybertip.ca) and a toll-free telephone line (1-866-658-9022). Cybertip.ca receives and analyzes the tips and refer leads to the appropriate law enforcement agencies as required. Cybertip.ca also provides victim support and referral services as well as educating and raising awareness to help Canadians keep themselves safe while using the Internet.

More information about Cybertip.ca is available at http://www.cybertip.ca. More information about Child Find Manitoba is available at http://www.childfind.mb.ca.

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