Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also wish to acknowledge the importance sports and recreation plays in the communities. I am sure we are all concerned about community wellness. This is a key element in shaping our youth for tomorrow. Sports provide an environment for developing learning and leadership abilities, and also provides excellent role models. Not only do recreational activities promote team-building and sportsmanship, but promote healthy individuals.
With that in mind, I wish to recognize the following Arctic Winter Games participants from my constituency of Tu Nedhe. From Fort Resolution, Travis Guild in badminton, Dexter Lafferty and Frank Lafferty for dog-mushing, and Tausia Kaitu'u' Lal, an official at badminton. Also, from Lutsel K'e, Jesse Michelle for Dene games. I would like to wish these and all of the other fine athletes all the best at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my concern on the lack of funding and recreational facilities available in small communities. Small communities have very tight-knit people, but the communities do not have access to a lot of recreational facilities. If there are recreational facilities, there is no money in the community to really take full advantage of it.
I think sport and recreation boards and Municipal and Community Affairs could do a little bit more to guarantee that adequate funding levels are available in small communities where it is very difficult to raise money from industry and corporations. There are no industry and corporations in small communities. Everything is based on proposal writing to the federal and territorial governments. It is very hard to raise money in the communities. I think this government has to be conscious of that.
The representation from small, rural communities in the Northwest Territories at this Arctic Winter Games will be a good example of those problems. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.