Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to take a couple of minutes to talk about a topic that is very near and dear to my heart and that is sports. Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues and myself have been anxious to get to the TV sets these days to watch the Olympics and the goings on there. We have been entertained by some very exciting games in different sports.

I know that I want to congratulate the ladies team last night for coming out on top of the U.S. team in ladies hockey.

-- Applause

After going into that game, having lost eight consecutive times to the U.S., I am sure there was a lot of pressure on these girls. I guess we have been witness to quite a number of negative happenings when you mix politics and sports. We have seen that in a number of sports in the Olympics in the last couple of weeks.

I think that far too often, Mr. Speaker, we put too much importance on medals and the colour of medals being presented. I know that a number of athletes have been to the Olympics and different sporting events and have put in personal bests and have not come away with medals.

I think that we should be putting more emphasis on our athletes who do personal bests when they are in competition against other athletes and not worry about what colour medals they are getting.

I want to congratulate all Canadians who have taken part in the Olympics and who have represented Canada to the very best of their abilities. I also want to congratulate all the athletes across the North who have qualified to compete in the Arctic Winter Games. I know it is very important, having been involved in the games before, that the athletes receive support from families, from friends and also from government representatives.

I will not be personally going to the games this year, but I do hope that some of my colleagues will have the opportunity to attend and give our athletes some support and encouragement.

Mr. Speaker, next week, starting on Saturday, there is a team from the Northwest Territories that is going to be representing the Northwest Territories and the Yukon at the Scott Tournament of Hearts in Brandon, Manitoba. Mr. Speaker, this team consists of Monique Gagnier of Hay River, Kelly Kaylo of Yellowknife, Cheryl Burlington of Yellowknife, Sharon Cormier of Yellowknife...