Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to ask questions to the most athletic Minister we have here today. That'd be the Minister of MACA who is in charge of sport and youth. And I can see him all excited there with knowing he's getting my questions, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Minister is not going to the Arctic Winter Games to wave the NWT flag and support the parents and athletes. Yeah, it's a real shame. Mr. Speaker, in my time, I've always seen political representation to show that support. Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain why he or someone in his position is not going to politically represent the Northwest Territories at these games? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It goes back to an old sports-related injury. Actually, so, basically, what it comes down to is we know that we've had some financial difficulties in the department with getting athletes to the games, travel costs, everything else, so, you know, I've got a few things going on also, so I've asked the department to take me off the list to travel there to help save money and hopefully use some of that money for the athletes and their travels. So some fiscal sustainability there. And also just to -- I will be attending the meetings, however, virtually, so there are meetings there that I will be attending virtually. And, you know, there are staff that are going -- sorry, there are people going that will be representing the Northwest Territories. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure what the Cabinet's hoping for after hearing that answer. My goodness, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, someone at a political level should represent the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister doesn't have the time, maybe one of us. I sit on the committee that oversees it. And, if anything, Mr. Speaker, I am sure the senior envoy has nothing to do; he could go. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be willing to designate someone or put an offer out there, because those parents and youth really appreciate us joining arm-in-arm with them, supporting them, and waving the NWT flag? Because it matters, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, you know, the role of the Minister, obviously, is to take part in some of the activities but it's also to take part in some of the meetings that are happening there. We all know the cost of doing government. We've heard time and time again how much money it costs and how much money we waste, and that goes on and on and on. So I've decided to use some of that money, and hopefully it goes towards some of the travel that the athletes are going towards. And at the end of the day, I've decided not to go and attend the meetings virtually. We have the Commissioner going. I hear the Speaker's going. And I hope the Speaker will be waving our flag high for us. And my understanding is he's quite keen on going, as he normally is -- likes to go to the Arctic Winter Games, and he's going to hopefully hand out some medals for us and hopefully attend the opening ceremonies for us. So thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister talks about the budget, the money. Can the Minister confirm to this House that 100 percent of what would have been his travel budget is going to support our northern athletes at the Arctic Winter Games? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could guarantee that that money, and then some, is going to be going to the travel and everything else at the Arctic Winter Games. So if we can get back to the Member, once the games are done and all expenses are out and you can see where all the money has gone, we can get all that information from Sport North and all the other organizations that might be dipping into my travel funds that go to the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
