Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like many in here, I've spent countless hours in recreation facilities in our territory, either as a coach or a volunteer or an enthusiastic fan, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in 1969, the Arctic Winter Games were created in part by leadership from Commissioner Stewart Hodgson. At the time athletes be able to participate that may not otherwise have that opportunity, Mr. Speaker. I was saddened to hear that snowshoeing will not be an Arctic Winter Games sport.
Mr. Speaker, Arctic Winter Games represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for kids from the regions, from smaller communities, and certainly from our capital in Yellowknife. So, Mr. Speaker, is it time that we kind of ask ourselves is the Arctic Winter Games about medals, or is it about participation, Mr. Speaker? Is it about getting everyone involved in the Arctic Winter Games?
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the physical activity support and recreation fund has had some challenges. Our lottery funds have been reducing. We haven't put any additional funding into it through GNWT. We have had conversations around here. My colleague, the Member for Yellowknife Range Lake, Mr. Speaker, has brought forward a proposal for iGaming where we can actually look at increasing that fund and get that funding necessary to continue to grow that sport and to make the sport available that opens up doors for kids rather than have sports based on where facilities are located, Mr. Speaker, and I think that's very important.
So, Mr. Speaker, going forward, I would hope, and I will be supporting certainly the Minister -- and I know the Minister is keen on this, the Minister of MACA -- of what's happening around Arctic Winter Games. I am hoping to see, Mr. Speaker, regardless of what we have in our lottery fund, going forward with this year's budget that we do properly allocate this funding. Given what's happening in our territory right now, Mr. Speaker, with addictions and with all the bad things that our youth can get involved in, it's so important that we continue to support sport, to continue to provide opportunities for people in our capital, for people in our regions, and certainly for people in our smaller communities that may not have those opportunities, Mr. Speaker. We can hold trials in the regions. We can get outside of Yellowknife as well and ensure that everybody, the intent, the spirit of Arctic Winter Games, remains intact and what it should be, that kids get an opportunity to do things, a once in a lifetime opportunity, Mr. Speaker, for these children, to get out, to see parts of the country they haven't seen before, participate, to share their culture and their values, and, Mr. Speaker, I will be advocating, as I said, for funding for Arctic Winter Games as we move forward and for Sport North. Thank you.
