Mr. Speaker, as critic for sport and persons with disabilities, I am honoured to welcome to Parliament Hill today the Team Canada athletes and coaches of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
On behalf of my NDP caucus, we admire them for the talent, sacrifice and self-discipline that got them to Rio. Our profound gratitude is also theirs for the class they displayed, the sportsmanship, and the patriotism. We Canadians are fortunate to have them as ambassadors.
I am also proud of some local ambassadors who brought us HOCKtoberfest last weekend: the Windsor-Essex Sports Council, the Lakeshore Lightning team, the Sun Parlour Female Hockey Association, and all the volunteers and players of the ninth annual International Female Hockey Festival. Fifty teams from Ontario, Ohio and Michigan enjoyed top-notch competition and fun.
I thank them for reinforcing the positive image of Windsor as an exemplary host, and hockey as our quintessential game.