Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I made a statement regarding the Arctic Winter Games that seems to have sparked a great deal of interest both inside and outside of this House.

I listened with great interest as my colleagues rose and spoke of the impact the Arctic Winter Games had on their lives. For them, the experience was positive. It created a sense of pride and fostered lifelong friendships. This is an experience that every athlete in the Northwest Territories should have equal access to.

Mr. Speaker, I could stand here and say warm and fuzzy things about the games. My son participated with pride in the 1996 games in Eagle River, Alaska. My daughter will be participating this year in Whitehorse. I know they will remember this for the rest of their lives.

However, Mr. Speaker, there is a glaring omission from this year's Arctic Winter Games team. That omission is athletes from 17 Northwest Territories communities. Less than half of the communities of the Northwest Territories will be represented on the Arctic Winter Games team this year. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu region does not have any representation. Are we to believe there are no athletes in the Sahtu?

Further, when I look at the different sports participating at the Games, I note that some of the sports are fielding teams consisting mainly of athletes from the larger communities.

Mr. Speaker, I make these points because I am convinced there is a flaw in the Arctic Winter Games team selection process. The flaws are both at the support level and at the Arctic Winter Games trials level. Many of the communities do not have the recreational facilities required for some of the sports in the Games. At other times, the selection process is defective and does not provide for the fair selection of athletes.

I would like to remind the Members of a debate in the 13th Assembly. The debate was over a hockey team from Fort Smith. The team won every game of the tournament at the 1998 territorial trials. Yet only one athlete was selected for the Arctic Winter Games team. Later that year, two players from the Fort Smith team went on to play Junior A hockey in the south. I cannot be convinced that players chosen to play Junior A in the south cannot make the cut for the Arctic Winter Games team.

Mr. Speaker, the Games have changed greatly since their inception in 1970. We have gone from three contingents to six contingents. The sports involved have changed and we have adult participation in very few of the sports. The cost to participate has become a barrier to some athletes.