Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many communities, recreation associations and individuals identify the need for improved government structure for the management of the NWT sport and recreation
programs and services. So we initiated the full process of gathering all the partners together and had a discussion paper. That particular group made recommendations to the previous Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Through their recommendations, they created this new Northwest Territories sports and recreation partners. These partners, Mr. Speaker, are the Aboriginal Sports Circle of Western Arctic, Beaufort-Delta Sahtu Recreation Association, Mackenzie Recreation Association, NWT Recreation and Parks Association, Sport North Federation and their territorial sport organization. These are the people who are going to be forming this new council.
As I indicated, we have primary goals for this particular group: to provide a forum so communities and partners can have a voice in sports and recreation planning and decision-making; to initiate a discussion with sports and recreation partners and regional representatives on how we can streamline decision-making, improve program coordination and identify new ways to act as resources; to promote opportunities for all NWT residents to access sports, recreation and physical activity programs that are integral to improving health in community development. Those are our three primary goals of this new council. Thank you.