Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions, I have made statements in this House about the city of Yellowknife, and described it as being something that is probably not found on a map of the Northwest Territories. These statements were not made, Mr. Speaker, to discredit any of my colleagues representing this wonderful city, or the city itself. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, as a Member from outside of Yellowknife looking in, I might even say that I envy my colleagues. Not because they live in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, but for the job that they have and the issues they have to address.
It is very seldom that we hear these Members stand up and practically beg this government for funds to provide minor or even major projects that keep this city growing. On the other hand, Members from outside Yellowknife are constantly requesting more funds. My underlying message or concerns, Mr. Speaker, stem from this government and the federal government's apparent willingness to support projects and/or initiatives for Yellowknife over other communities in the North.
Very often I hear or read about grants received by Yellowknife organizations under the banner of being an NWT organization. It is great that organizations such as these receive grants. However, Mr. Speaker, my concern is that few of these grant funds ever leave the city of Yellowknife. In some cases, they are used to hold meetings or conferences in the city, which further benefits the city from these funds. Not many of us can expect an announcement such as the one that was made by DND to put $1 million towards a full-sized gymnasium to complement the twin pad arena.
Another example, Mr. Speaker, is a recent e-mail I received in my office as part of a mass e-mail that was distributed by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Mr. Speaker, RWED was seeking support for and studying the possibility of developing a convention centre here in Yellowknife for the future. Mr. Speaker, I might also add that RWED spent $25,000 of public funds to have a study completed on the feasibility of having a convention centre in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, I was taken aback to read in one of our local papers that the study stated the estimated cost of $9,168,000 would be subsidized wholly or in part by government as an enterprise business to stimulate local economy.