Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and again, congratulations on your appointment.
Thank you very much to the witnesses for appearing before this committee. You've already offered some very keen insights that will be valuable for our report. I also thank you for shedding some light on the Saskatchewan experience--my home province. I was going to ask you to speak to the average physical fitness and average physical activity in Saskatchewan, and you've already done so.
I have three quick points, the first one being a bit longer. Picking up on what Ms. Priddy had to say, I want you to comment--you can pick who--on the importance of sports complexes and of that critical infrastructure, facilities where kids, and all Canadian citizens, can play and have fun and get some much-needed exercise. In Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, one of the biggest priorities right now is the construction of Moose Jaw's multiplex facility. There is a hockey rink, a curling rink, and also an indoor soccer facility and walking track. Certainly this is much needed in minus 40 degrees, which we'll see shortly. I'm a big proponent of building this facility.
I believe that all three levels of government must commit to building facilities that foster physical fitness and improve the health of all Canadians. I think this has to be a priority. These facilities help to develop healthy habits in terms of physical activity, which will benefit individuals at home--outside these facilities. I know in my own example, I think of the endless hours that I used to play shinny on the driveway, literally from sun-up to sundown. If my father, Al Batters, had not introduced me to competitive hockey, would it have been all that thrilling to spend eight hours or more on a driveway with a couple of clumps of snow? Probably not. Certainly you can gain a lot of good habits in such facilities. That's my first point.
Second, I would ask you to comment on the value that you perceive--give us your honest impression--of the children's fitness tax credit. I'm fully aware you're not here to stump for the government, but I want to know what you think of that.
Third, I think I heard you say earlier that you're strong advocates for physical fitness in our schools. I'm a big believer that mandatory physical education or activity in our schools is imperative. I agree with Ms. Craig when she says that a physical activity campaign is absolutely crucial.
Those are my three points, if you don't mind.