Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the Arctic Winter Games midget hockey team selection. Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine contacted me yesterday and wanted me to set the record straight. Apparently, there have been some facts that have not been relayed consistently to the public. There has been a lot of media attention to this, as well as, statements and questions in the House. My constituent wanted me to make it clear the team that won the territorials was not a Fort Smith hockey team, in fact, it was not even a South Slave hockey team, it was a conglomerate of the South Slave and Mackenzie region. There were ten players from Hay River and Fort Smith, there were five players from Mackenzie region. The team did win the territorials, but people knew that it would be an all-star Arctic Winter Games team and that the Arctic Winter Games team would go to the Air Canada Cup tournament.

Unfortunately, it appears that an important fact has been overlooked. The fact is that five players in total from the winning team were selected to the Arctic Winter Games team. My constituent wanted this emphasized that five players were, in fact, selected; there was one from Fort Smith, one from Hay River and three from the Mackenzie region.

Mr. Speaker, I have checked and selecting an all-star team for the Arctic Winter Games is consistent with the past three or four Arctic Winter Games. I have been informed that an all-star format is used in order to keep the larger centres from dominating the games and from sending all the teams. This allows the smaller communities to get their children into the games. Mr. Speaker, this is well demonstrated in the facts that there are ten communities represented on this midget team. Thank you.

--Applause