Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring the conversation back into the sports arena for a minute, on the topic of the Arctic Winter Games. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the athletes from Hay River who have been successful in obtaining a spot on Team NWT for the Arctic Winter Games.
I would also like to thank all of the coaches from Hay River who have put in a lot of time with the athletes to get the teams ready. And I would like to thank all of the volunteers who have participated in organizing the regional and territorial trials, which enabled us to have the best of our athletes represent us at the Arctic Winter Games.
I would like to commend the staff at Sport North. Having been involved in the Arctic Winter Games for a number of years as a coach and participant, I have worked closely with the staff at Sport North. They perform all of the organizing for the sports. This year, they seem to have done an exceptional job. I do not know if it is because of the split with Nunavut that they have fewer athletes, but they are doing a wonderful job. I have enjoyed working with them this year.
I feel privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the Arctic Winter Games again this year. I am going to be coaching the Hay River Junior Girls Curling Team. I am privileged to have that opportunity. I would like to issue a challenge to Members on both sides of the House; it is incumbent upon us to have good representation at the Arctic Winter Games. We sit in the House and talk about how good this is for our kids and how important it is to have them involved in the games. I think it is also important for us to be very visible to our athletes at the games, to show we support them and encourage their participation in the sport. Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause