Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation, on behalf of the Northwest Territories Curling Association, the athletes and the supporters who travelled to the Brier which was held in Red Deer and the Junior National Curling Championships which were held in Truro, I would like to thank the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, the staff of his department, the people of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation and any other people in the Northwest Territories who supported these athletes and spectators in whatever ways they did.
The Northwest Territories Development Corporation, through the Rankin Inlet Meat and Fish Company provided some caribou and Arctic char delicacies which were served during hospitality nights in both places. The food that we served got rave reviews and I noticed that there wasn't one tidbit left on the tables that the food was set up on at the end of the evening. Everybody who ate these goodies came to me and expressed their appreciation and commented on how good the products were. We served over 750 people at the Brier and over 300 in Truro.
I would also like to say that the athletes, especially the junior women athletes wore, as part of their uniforms, articles of clothing from the Northwest Territories, specifically they wore the Arctic Winter Games jackets. I know a lot of the parents also wore these jackets and they were one of the most popular items of clothing there. They got a lot of very nice comments and everybody wanted to buy or trade for them.
The point I'm making, Madam Speaker, is that when we send athletes and when we are supporting spectators and representatives of the north, they do represent the north and any support they receive from anybody in the Northwest Territories is greatly appreciated and is recognized as a good product by people of Canada. Mahsi.
---Applause