:
Thank you very much, Chair. I am absolutely thrilled to be here.
Good morning, committee members.
With me today of course are two individuals who will be helpful, being that I am the new .
I'm pleased to be here to speak about 2013 supplementary estimates. Before I do, I'd like to take a few moments to give this committee some insight into my first several months as the new .
It was a tremendous honour to be asked to serve in this role by , and since July I have been focused on reaching out to a wide range of stakeholders and arts organizations across the country. For example, during a tour of parts of Atlantic Canada, I met with the Atlantic Provinces Art Gallery Association and members of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. In Toronto I met with Stephen Waddell from the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, and with many great artists and creators at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In Alberta I held a round table related to arts and culture, and had the pleasure of meeting with folks at the North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre, as well as several other groups. I toured cSPACE, where artists affected by the flooding were able to salvage, clean, and repair their visual works of art. It was a touching collaboration of the arts community in Calgary.
[Translation]
In Quebec, I met with a number of people from the art world, including Simon Brault, CEO of the National Theatre School of Canada and Vice-Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts.
I attended the 35th Gala de l'ADISQ, where I sat with Angèle Dubeau and her husband, Mario Labbé. Having an opportunity to talk to two renowned Quebec figures was truly a wonderful surprise and an honour.
I attended the 28th Gemini Awards. I was sitting close to the team of Unité 9, a television show I love.
I also had an opportunity to visit the facilities and meet the representatives of a number of organizations that are part of the Canadian Heritage portfolio. Here, I am thinking of Library and Archives Canada, CBC, the National Film Board and the National Arts Centre, to name only a few.
I participated in the FPT Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie, which was held back home, in Winnipeg.
[English]
I also attended the federal, provincial, and territorial meeting of ministers responsible for culture in Iqaluit. We discussed our mutual investments in Canada's creative industries and shared ideas about increasing overall appreciation of our culture.
Last month I had the pleasure of hosting my first movie night with Telefilm Canada, showing The Grand Seduction. For those of you who couldn't make it, I highly recommend this charming Quebec-Newfoundland co-production filled with top-notch Canadian talent like Gordon Pinsent and of course Mary Walsh.
[Translation]
Today, I am appearing before you for the first time as a minister, and I want to highlight the important work you do on behalf of Canada's arts and culture. I hope to meet with you regularly.
Thank you for your commitment and your consistent contribution to promoting, preserving and celebrating our country's arts, culture and heritage.
[English]
So far as minister I have witnessed many parts of the dynamic cultural sector that generates close to $50 billion to Canada's GDP every year, and 630,000 jobs. I've seen how the Government of Canada's support is helping sustain this sector with initiatives right across the country.
I bring a strong interest in arts and culture to my new job, and each day I learn and appreciate more about the amazing Canadians who work to keep our arts and culture alive. All Canadians should be very proud of the talent we produce right here at home.
[Translation]
I was also happy that the government mentioned certain cultural priorities in last October's Speech from the Throne, such as our intention to unbundle television channels in Canada.
[English]
We clearly put forward our intention to unbundle television channels in Canada. We believe Canadian families should be able to choose the combination of television channels they want. That's why we issued a request to the CRTC under section 15 of the Broadcasting Act to report to the government on television channel choice. We are requiring the CRTC to undertake a full examination of unbundling of television services, and to report back no later than April 30, 2014.
[Translation]
The throne speech also mentioned the Canadian Museum of History. As you know, the relevant bill was passed by the House of Commons and is currently before the Senate.
[English]
The Speech from the Throne also noted two important sporting events that will take place in Canada in 2015. I'm delighted that Canada will be hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup.
[Translation]
I am also looking forward to welcoming the thousands of athletes and spectators who will come to Canada for the Pan American and Parapan American Games in 2015.
[English]
Long after the excitement of the games is over, they will leave a legacy of world-class sports facilities to be used by current and future athletes.
[Translation]
Of course, another passionate sporting event is just around the corner. I am talking about the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. Millions of Canadians will encourage our athletes, and I am really looking forward to doing the same. The throne speech also stressed the importance of encouraging young Canadians to be more active. I personally consider this to be vital to the health of Canadians.
I was happy to be in Winnipeg to participate in the signing of a bilateral agreement on sports between the Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba. That agreement will help encourage young people, disabled individuals and aboriginals to participate in sports. Our government is signing similar agreements with all the provinces and territories. Those agreements will have a positive effect on communities across the country for many years.
[English]
The throne speech also noted a milestone we're all eagerly awaiting. That is, of course, the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation in 2017. Since 1867, we have grown as a country and Canadians have made their mark in all fields.
[Translation]
I am thinking of Louis Riel, leader of the Metis people in the Prairies and founder of my province. I am thinking of Frederick Banting, Canadian Nobel Prize winner.
[English]
Of course, who could forget Alice Munro, who made us all very proud this year when she received the Nobel Prize in Literature.
I also think of Mary Two-Axe Earley, who worked hard on behalf of aboriginal women who had lost their Indian status under the law.
Each and every one of us could come up with a list of our own examples. It's quite possible none of our lists would be the same. Our country has a diverse and remarkable heritage that is well worth celebrating.
[Translation]
Canada's 150th anniversary belongs to all Canadians. We will hold consultations to see how Canadians would like to mark that anniversary.
[English]
Through face-to-face meetings and social media tools like Facebook and Twitter, we'll reach out to Canadians from all walks of life to see how they would like to celebrate and commemorate our shared experiences, values, and pride. We want to work with Canadians to ensure that 2017 is a great success and a source of pride.
Now on to the estimates. Mr. Chair, the committee has asked me here to speak about supplementary estimates (B). Let me run through the most significant items.
We are reprofiling $1 million from 2012-13 to 2013-14 through the Canada cultural spaces program. That's for the completion of the Heritage Discovery Centre at Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site in Sault Ste. Marie.
As you'll see in the estimates documents, changes also involve several transfers to and from the departments. For example, $730,000 will go to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for research related to sport participation. At the same time, the department will receive $310,000 from Indian Affairs and Northern Development to promote National Aboriginal Day.
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development will provide $300,000 to help build the National Holocaust Monument here in the National Capital Region. On October 24, Minister Baird and I announced the six finalists in the national design competition for the future monument.
All totalled, estimates (B) this year will result in a net increase of $0.5 million to the Department of Canadian Heritage spending authority.
In closing, I'd like to thank the committee for inviting me here today and for your ongoing work on behalf of this sector. I look forward to working with this committee and with all stakeholders to strengthen the arts, culture, and heritage of our country.
With that said, I'm happy to take any questions you might have.
:
First and foremost, let me say that arts and culture in Canada really do contribute to how we feel about being Canadian. We are proud to be Canadian, because we have arts and culture that is very different from that of other countries in the world. It actually makes our country the absolute best country in the world.
We have a variety of programs to assist in celebrating arts and culture. I know that many of you are familiar with some of them. But let me remind the committee of some of the ones I am particularly proud of.
For example, we support festivals across the country. In fact, I'm sure many of you are familiar with the festivals in your own ridings. I look to Monsieur Nantel, who has the Marché de Noël & des Traditions de Longueuil, 2013, qui s'en vient. Festivals really do allow us, at the local level, to celebrate our local culture. They allow us to bring our local artists to the forefront and celebrate their talents.
We also, of course, have a number of other programs in the way of grants. We provide almost 9,000 grants and contributions through the Department of Canadian Heritage, and we get probably 15,000 requests every year.
The Canada Council for the Arts, as well, does a fantastic job as creators and as experts. They choose the artists who they sponsor and provide funding to. They, themselves, have been able to provide approximately 6,000 different grants through the $180 million that we provide them each and every year. I might add that this $180 million is the highest level of funding the Canada Council for the Arts has ever seen. So we're very proud that we have maintained that. Even through a very tough and fragile economic time, we are in fact the only G-7 country that was able to maintain direct funding, like the funding we provide through the Canada Council for the Arts, to artists.
The literary awards were also held yesterday. I'm particularly proud of the 14 recipients. The Canada book fund, actually, provided funding to 10 of the 14 literary award winners yesterday.
We are making a difference. We are able to contribute in a meaningful way to arts and culture so that we can celebrate this wonderful country. I hope to continue the work of Minister , who did a very, very good job before I arrived. I'll need your help, so I appreciate that.
Minister, thanks for being here today. I listened to your opening remarks. It sounds as though you've been very busy since taking your new position as Minister of Canadian Heritage. Obviously, you've been doing some great things. Obviously, you have a department that is very important to helping Canadians shape our national identity and have pride in our country.
Obviously, you know we've been undertaking a study of our preparation for the Olympics. We've had a number of organizations, including sports organizations, here and we've heard over and over how our athletes and our great efforts, which we have seen at recent Olympics, inspire Canadians, particularly young Canadians, to be involved in sport. Obviously there is work being undertaken as we approach our 150th anniversary and there are other large milestones coming very soon. There's a lot of work for you to do, but you can see the fruits of those efforts in the pride we create in Canadians about being Canadian.
I think about some of the local organizations that your department has funded. In my riding specifically, the Airdrie Food Bank has a festival every year that raises money for those who go a little hungry, but it also promotes the arts while it's doing so with its Empty Bowls Arts Festival. I think about things like the Mountain View Music Fest and Airdrie's ARTember. I also think of course about the world-class Banff Centre in my riding with its arts and leadership training thanks to the funding that comes from the department for that.
I know you're proud to be a part of all those things. I appreciate your being here today.
But I would like to focus in on the subject matter at hand. Unlike some of the opposition members who have chosen to talk about future business in the committee or to bring forward notices of motion, I would really like to talk a little bit about some of the things in the supplementary estimates if I can. I'll just ask you a couple of questions in regard to that.
I notice the transfer from Indian Affairs and Northern Development to Canadian Heritage to promote public awareness and community participation in National Aboriginal Day activities. I wonder if you can tell me a little bit about what that transfer has enabled the department to do and what kinds of activities and things surround that.
:
Thank you very much for the question.
I'm so glad you mentioned your Banff Centre, because it was amazing to visit that centre. They were very complimentary to this government for many years of support, and I know how hard you've worked to assist them. Aside from the Banff Centre, there's your mention of the food bank, God bless you, because they really do value how we feel about helping those who are vulnerable.
Continue doing the work you're doing. It's very important in your riding, and they appreciate it very much.
With regard to the estimates, that specific transfer is a huge and popular transfer, especially in my home province. Of course, I'm a Métis woman, so National Aboriginal Day on June 21 is something that we celebrate frequently.
We have expertise in the Department of Canadian Heritage. We do the Canada Day grants as well. As I said before to Monsieur Dion, we're very proud of the work that is done there, and that is why Aboriginal Affairs transfers these funds: because we're already able to and capable of providing the expertise to manage those requests.
Aboriginal Day is celebrated from coast to coast to coast by the first nations, by our Métis, and by our Inuit. It is a celebration that, again, honours their heritage and honours their culture, and I am just so very pleased that the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs allows us to take part in helping those communities to celebrate a very, very important day. They are the first people. They are Canada's first people, and they're worth celebrating. Their history is worth celebrating.
Thank you for asking the question. I appreciate it.
:
Mr. Chair, members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, good morning, bonjour.
I appreciate this opportunity to address the committee on a topic of great interest to all Canadians. Like you, I have certain concerns regarding the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.
[Translation]
The Olympic Games are always an extraordinary opportunity for Canadians to join together and feel an immense sense of pride in our athletes.
Sporting success on the world stage is never a random occurrence. Rather, success is the result of sacrifices and preparation made over many years by our athletes and their families, our coaches and our sport associations—with the support of federal institutions like Canadian Heritage, as well as the private sector.
For our winter athletes to excel, as they did in Vancouver with 14 gold medals—the most of any country at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and the most ever for Canada—their focus must be rigid, their training intensive and their performance second to none.
[English]
Canadians have always been, and continue to be, inspired by our athletes' Olympic success. As Commissioner of Official Languages, I can take that one step further: I have also been singularly impressed at how bilingual our athletes are. It is amazing to hear an athlete, still panting after winning a medal, give interviews in both official languages.
Our official languages were a key element in the planning and delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games almost four years ago here on Canadian soil. My office's collaborative work with federal institutions and the organizing committee of the Vancouver Games led to a very successful event presented in both official languages, with the unfortunate exception of the cultural component of the opening ceremonies.
The invaluable lessons learned from this experience resulted in the production of a practical guide to promoting official languages for any organization hosting a major sporting event in Canada. We have copies here. This past summer, Canada Games organizers in Sherbrooke used the guide and were clearly successful in promoting both official languages during this national event— proof that we have made great strides.
[Translation]
As far as the Sochi Olympics are concerned, the challenges are quite different. In 2010, it was not until the eve of the games that a decisions was made, making it possible for Canadians across the country to watch television coverage in French on CPAC. We are in a much better position this time around.
I was pleased to hear last year that CBC/Radio-Canada had won the contract to cover the games, ensuring that Canadians will have access to coverage in both official languages. I personally congratulated Hubert Lacroix for this accomplishment.
As you know, English and French are the official languages of the International Olympic Committee. Earlier this year, the Francophonie named historian and Russia specialist Hélène Carrère d'Encausse as Grand Témoin de la Francophonie for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi. It will be her job to observe, both before and during the games, how successful Russia has been in fulfilling the requirements of the International Olympic Committee. I wish Russia the very best in meeting the challenges of hosting a successful event.
Of course, commenting on the country's ability to provide services in English and French is well beyond my mandate. The one area of concern for Canada will be to ensure that our athletes can obtain the services they require in both official languages from their sport associations and from the Canadian Olympic Committee. My expectation is that this will be the case.
[English]
When our athletes are many miles from home and challenging themselves in highly competitive, suspense-filled environments, perhaps the most challenging moments of their lives, we must ensure that they have the information they need, the support they require, and the last-minute coaching advice they can count on.
Although some of our sport associations have had language challenges in the past, challenges that were documented in a study by my predecessor, Dyane Adam, I've had no indication that there are particular issues for any of our athletes set to compete in Sochi.
I think that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are a remarkable opportunity for all Canadians, no matter what language we speak, to celebrate not only our athletic achievements but also the linguistic duality that enriches our country in so many ways. I look forward to watching the performance of our tremendous athletes as they make Canada proud in Sochi.
In closing, Mr. Chair, I thank you and your colleagues for the opportunity to appear before the committee this morning.
[Translation]
I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Members and associate members of the standing committee, ladies and gentlemen, bonjour, good morning.
[Translation]
My name is Doug MacQuarrie. I am the Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.
[English]
With me is my colleague, Mr. Jeremy Luke, director of the Canadian anti-doping program and business development. Jeremy also served for four years as director of anti-doping for the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
On behalf of the centre, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to describe our efforts to support the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams as they prepare for the Sochi games.
The CCES works to protect the integrity of sport. We collaborate with others to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system throughout Canada, and we advocate for sport in Canada that is fair, safe, and open to everyone.
I know you would agree that clean sport is an objective we all share. None of us wants to see a Canadian athlete receive a medal on a Friday, only to see it taken away on Saturday. We lived that once. We do not want to live it again.
We believe most elite Canadian athletes train and compete clean, but they, as well as most Canadians, look to the government and the sport community to maintain a level playing field, to stay abreast of doping tactics, and to stop the cheaters.
In the time available, we'd like to cover five key areas: one, recent events that are shaping our anti-doping work; two, contemporary approaches to tackling the doping problem with Canada's high-performance athletes; three, specific CCES actions related to this committee's interest in the Sochi games; four, some doping risks facing Canadian Olympians and Paralympians; and five, opportunities for enhanced federal government involvement.
Concerning recent events shaping our work, since the fall of 2012, the Lance Armstrong scandal has exposed the truth about the most sophisticated doping conspiracy ever seen in sport. Its tentacles and further revelations by other professional cyclists continue to unfold. Several Canadians have been implicated, such as Michael Barry and Ryder Hesjedal.
Meanwhile, the Australian Crime Commission carried out a 12-month investigation and produced a detailed report titled Organized Crime and Drug Use in Sport. The report reveals widespread doping, match-fixing, and the growing involvement of organized crime throughout many levels of sport in Australia.
Closer to home, Canada Border Services Agency data reveal that steroids are the second most-often confiscated drug at our borders. At the Quebec border, steroids are the number one most confiscated drug. Our own research with Canadian elite athletes suggests that 16% have personal knowledge of doping. These facts prompted us to reach out to the , the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee for additional financial support to help bolster our national anti-doping efforts. On November 5 , the Government of Canada, and for the first time ever, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee came together and agreed to provide an additional $800,000 to be invested in the Canadian anti-doping program. The amount represents a one-time increment of $400,000 from the Government of Canada, and another $400,000 spread over the next three years from the COC, and a one-time contribution of $10,000 from the CPC.
As for our contemporary anti-doping efforts, the additional funding will enable us to increase our work in a number of key areas. We will increase our anti-doping education efforts to ensure all athletes fully understand their rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code.
We will expand our intelligence-gathering initiatives and conduct more investigations into the supply and distribution side of doping in Canada. We will include more athletes in our whereabouts program, a system that allows us to locate athletes throughout the year and around the clock for unannounced testing.
We will increase our athlete biological passport program, a system that develops a unique blood profile for each athlete, enabling the monitoring of blood for deviations that signal doping. We will be carrying out more testing in urine and blood—not more random testing, but more tests guided by the intelligence we gather.
We gather information from many different sources and we are already seeing results from a newly launched anonymous report-doping hotlline. This tool allows athletes, coaches, training personnel and others to share sensitive information they may have about doping.
With the above approach we can test the right athlete, at the right place, at the right time, for the right substance.
On our specific actions related to the Sochi games, the CCES continues to play an important role in assisting the Canadian teams to prepare for Sochi. We maintain close contact with and provide regular briefs to the chief medical officer and others with the COC and CPC with respect to Olympic and Paralympic anti-doping programs.
Our e-learning platform is available to all athletes and support personnel with specific information regarding the IOC and IPC anti-doping rules. Our on-line drug reference database is available to help athletes know what is permitted and what is not. Our athlete services team is available to assist athletes who require a therapeutic use exemption, or have other anti-doping-related questions.
We have exchanged information with the COC and are confident that their tangible efforts to keep Canadian athletes safe and secure while in Russia are on target. We will ensure each Olympic and Paralympic athlete is tested at least once in the four months immediately preceding both games.
Finally, during both games, CCES staff will be available remotely to help the COC and the CPC staff to navigate the anti-doping rules and procedures.
It should also be noted that the CCES has provided ongoing consulting to the Sochi organizing committee over the past two years, based on our experiences in Vancouver. As such, we have influenced the very nature of the Sochi anti-doping program. With these new and expanded initiatives in place, we can be more confident that athletes representing us are clean.
Regardless of these important preparations, there will continue to be doping risks to our athletes due to ongoing concerns, such as supplement contamination, which continues to be a very significant risk. Athletes who consume supplements—and our research suggests a majority do—face a real risk of inadvertent doping due to limited federal regulation and lax industry standards. Regrettably, we experience a dearth of cooperation from Canadian law enforcement. This is largely due to an overly restrictive regulatory environment and scarce resources. For example, none of the intelligence gathered at our borders related to the confiscation of steroids is being shared with our organization.
Finally, for a small window of time, NHL hockey players don a Canadian jersey and compete for the country. When they do, they leave their relatively lax and insular environment insofar as anti-doping regulations are concerned, and enter a much more restrictive and highly regulated anti-doping environment, both during the pre-games and the games period.
Can we guarantee that a Canadian athlete won't get caught doping at a major international competition in the future? No, we can't, but if it should happen, we know we're doing everything we can to prevent it, notwithstanding the risks.
While we are focused on preparing the athletes for the Sochi games, let's not forget that once the flame is extinguished and our athletes come home, our work in anti-doping continues and our athletes' desire for clean sport remains. World championships and other major games occur in most sports on an annual basis, therefore, our investment in clean sport must be sustainable.
Canada has demonstrated a commitment to eradicate doping in sport. In 2005, the federal government became the second signatory to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport. This convention entered into force in 2007. The need to back our commitment with continued, and even increased, action has never been greater. We are highly regarded globally in the fight against doping, and Canada has a tremendous opportunity to lead other nations toward more rigorous anti-doping programs.
I thought I'd use my time this morning to give you a few views on why the private sector, Canadian Tire in particular, has an interest in Sochi and Canada's performance on the world stage.
Private sector companies align themselves with sports, in this case the Olympics, generally for two reasons. One is brand for commercial reasons, to elevate your brand, because you're tying yourself to a great symbol like the Olympics and some of our greatest athletes. The other reason is out of a sense of greater social responsibility, to give back to communities and invest in sports, because it's core to your DNA.
Certainly in our case, for 90 years we've been investing in communities in sport. We today spend more than $40 million a year in communities in sport. For us, associating ourselves with the Olympics and the Paralympics and the Special Olympics, which is a relationship we're forming now, is just a natural thing for us to do.
Our view on the ability for Canada to succeed in Sochi or at any world venue is not necessarily the year or the months before the competition; it's the journey from the playground to the podium. It's about getting kids involved at a very early age in sport, getting them excited and inspired about the power of sport, and helping them understand the importance of living healthy and active lives.
At a playground level, we are big supporters of Hockey Canada, Soccer Canada, Skate Canada, Alpine Canada, and thousands of community sport programs. We just announced last week, with 60 partners, a national movement to compel our provinces to inject an hour a day of activity into schools, recognizing that 88% of Canadian parents are extremely concerned that their kids are not active today or nowhere near as active as any of us were as kids. In fact, we have a fairly exciting announcement next week in one of the provinces that will be among the first in the country to commit to getting kids in their province active for an hour a day at school.
We obviously use athletes to help inspire kids to live healthy and active lives. We have relationships with Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Charles Hamelin, Christine Sinclair, Mark McMorris in snowboard, and Rosie MacLennan. She actually works for us at Canadian Tire two days a week, and is gaining some real-life job experience.
Mark's Work Wearhouse, which is one of our business divisions, is getting heavily involved in community coaching. Sport Chek, another one of our divisions, is increasingly getting involved at the high school and university levels.
At an elite level, we support major organizations that are critical to things like Sochi for their success: the Canada Games, B2ten. We fund the Olympic committee, the Paralympic committee. We direct money to Own the Podium.
I will say, just as an editorial comment, that we need to do a better job as a country of celebrating our athletes and celebrating the success of the investments that the government makes. The government's putting hundreds of millions of dollars against athletes and their performance—in the journey to Sochi, in this case.
Canadian athletes have won more than 50 medals on the world stage this year, but we don't hear about it at all, right?
These are world events where, because of the funding of the Government of Canada, through Own the Podium and others, our athletes are succeeding. But we don't put a big enough spotlight on their success, so Canadians only care, once every two or four years, how many medals we get.
I recognize that it's tough for the government to spend money marketing the success of those sport figures. It's tough for Own the Podium to take money away from athletes to market that success, which is why I think the private sector has a role in doing that for others. Certainly our objective for the next eight years as a partner of the Canadian Olympic Committee is to elevate and make heroes out of the athletes that you and many others are funding.
In Sochi in particular, we've invested against approximately 10 athletes. They're going to be featured in all of our advertising. In fact for Sport Chek, every single ad we do for Sport Chek for the next eight years will feature amateur athletes just to elevate them and make heroes out of them to help inspire other people.
For the friends and families of athletes in Sochi, we helped fund Canada Olympic House in Sochi to make sure they have a place to come to celebrate the athletes and their lives.
In terms of promoting patriotism in stores, we have a number of merchandise lines that are out there right now. We have a new Adidas line of high-performance gear at Sport Chek and a number of Olympic-branded things at Canadian Tire. Certainly the royalties all go to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
I would suggest that, as we look to the contributing factors to success on the podium, we bear in mind that it is not so much what happened last year or this year. As a country, if we want to be successful on the world stage, we need to start investing in kids and start inspiring them to live healthy and active lives. This is a major issue compared with where we were 10 or 20 years ago. We view our role as contributing everything from the playground to the podium.
Those are my comments, Mr. Chair. I'd be happy to take questions.