Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make my statement today under the broad subject of celebration. Earlier in this session, I heard colleagues debating the merits of granting special liquor licences to open bars and pubs to celebrate the Olympic hockey game, which happened to fall on a Sunday. This in turn led to a debate over whether communities should set the rules for themselves on Sunday bar openings.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like to respectfully point out the irony of what it was that people wanted to celebrate. To be an athlete of Olympian quality takes years of discipline and training to ensure that you have reached the peak of performance in your sport. We admire and revere these people who have resisted the temptations of self-indulgence and excess in eating and drinking, and how do people celebrate? Well, some of them sit on their couch or on a bar stool, eat junk food, smoke and drink beer. Would it not make more sense to emulate the accomplishments of these athletes to maybe go out and run ten kilometres? Or if you have to drink, do it at home with neighbours and friends, but let us not open the door to taking away the one day that people who probably need it the most could spend at home.

I do not think we need any more bar time to celebrate anything. I think we should celebrate the one day bars are closed, and there is a hope that people who are inclined to spend too much time at the bar might stay at home and celebrate a day of rest with their family and friends.