Mr. Speaker, when we had the OMC meeting this morning, I told the chairman I would make a statement today or tomorrow. He told me tomorrow might not come, so I will do it today.

---Laughter

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, competitive games in the north are on the rise. There are about 50 people with sled-dogs in the Baffin region and the dogs are different breeds than the dogs from the tree line. When dog races are held, the Baffin people with sled-dogs are never included because they do not have any rules when it comes to racing. There is an individual in Arctic Bay by the name of Eric Duncan who looks after many dogs and he has a concern about the Baffin people not being included in dog racing. It would be very beneficial for the young people of Baffin to be recognized and involved in dog sled racing in the same way as the people of the western Arctic.

The Baffin regional sled-dogs are more of a working dog used by their owners to take tourists and to hunt polar bears. What I am trying to say is that people with dogs in the Baffin region are not included in the Arctic Winter Games competitions when they should be involved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause