Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to rise and speak to the issue of sports and recreation. Mr. Speaker, since 1970 with the start of the Arctic Winter Games, the focus on sports and recreation in the North has slowly shifted away from what was community-based, supportive programs for communities and individuals at the community level to an almost complete focus on the Arctic Winter Games and the cost and the never-ending planning for the next Arctic Winter Games.

As well, Mr. Speaker, the government has slowly backed away from the issue of sports and recreation and quietly has off-loaded that responsibility on Sport North and no other organizations, in most cases without really any adequate funding.

On the other hand, the government continues to build sports facilities, rinks, ball diamonds and such with no focus on the practical running and support for these activities. They have put money into infrastructure but not into developing and creating athletes and sport and recreation programs at the community level.

Mr. Speaker, it is now time for the territorial government to step back up to the plate and look at this very important area. We need a leadership role specifically, I would suggest, through Municipal and Community Affairs. If this is one area that we need a clear vision and strategic plan of how we are going to do that...for 30 years, things have slowly shifted out of focus.

Mr. Speaker, as we work towards a better tomorrow, we do need to keep in mind the critical role that sports and recreation plays in continuing the service that we provide as a government.

Mr. Speaker, in particular, we clearly have to revisit the Arctic Winter Games. They are too big, they cost too much and they are held too often. The international organizing committee, Mr. Speaker, is as secretive and has all of the same problems as the International Olympic Committee. They make decisions in private. They do not keep notes. They make in camera decisions. There are no minutes. It speaks very clearly to the problems we have here. We should not have jurisdictions that exist south of 60 taking part in the Arctic Winter Games. It does not make any sense.

It has expanded too far and it consumes all of the energy of government and all the focus of the planning organizations. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.