Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am informed that Mr. Cooper declined to be involved in the selection of the 1998 AWG host community because Mr. Cooper is legal counsel for both the city of Yellowknife and the town of Inuvik. He felt there was a conflict of interest and a situation might arise. That was his reason.

Mr. Ian Legaree also declined to be involved in the selection because in his role as a member of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, Mr. Legaree strongly supported and promoted the concept of moving the games into smaller NWT communities. And, also as a director of sports and recreation for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Legaree works closely with both communities. He felt support for one would damage his working relationship with the other. So that was another conflict situation which arose. Thank you.