Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that the 2002 Arctic Winter Games will officially open on Sunday, March 17 in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
These games are a bi-annual, multinational and multicultural sporting event attended by athletes from across the north. They will be co-hosted by Iqaluit, Nunavut and Nuuk, Greenland. This is the first time that the games are co-hosted by two countries.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is one of the official sponsors of the games and its funding has been used to upgrade the Arctic College Ukiivik residence in Iqaluit which will be the athletes' home away from home during the games. Following the games CMHC, in partnership with the Nunavut Housing Corporation, will conduct a study to determine the long-term potential of this facility.
May I offer my best wishes to all the athletes during these games.