Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide Members with an update on an initiative being undertaken to address our government's commitment to support healthy lifestyle choices as outlined in the GNWT Strategic Plan - Self-Reliant People, Communities and Northwest Territories, A Shared Responsibility.
Tomorrow, February 12, 2005, is Northwest Territories Ski Day. As part of the celebrations, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is pleased to announce that through the Pan Territorial Sport Strategy, a new Ski Promotions Program has been developed in cooperation with the Northwest Territories ski division and the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association.
This program will provide financial contributions to a number of new and existing local clubs to promote cross-country skiing. The department is also working with its partners to have each of these contributions matched by corporation donations and local cash or services in kind.
Mr. Speaker, cross-country skiing is a sport with a rich legacy in the North. It is a sport that can be easily adapted as a physical activity option for all ages and one that is easy to choose as part of a physically active lifestyle.
It is also a sport that provides northerners with an opportunity to reach beyond our borders and represent the Northwest Territories on the national and international stage.
In the recent past this has included role models like Sharon Firth who will be honoured for her sport and youth role model contributions at the National aboriginal Achievement Awards in Saskatoon on March 31st.
Today it is skiers and biathletes like Sharon Daitch, Mike Argue and Elle Mawdsley who recently competed at the World University Games in Innsbruck, Austria; and Lindsey Bolivar and Brendan Green who will compete for Canada at the Junior/Youth World Championships in Sweden this March.
The development of cross-country ski programs will also enable communities to support the development of new trails and thereby provide assistance to other sport and physical activity programs like hiking, biking and biathlon, that also use these trails.
In the near future, I will be announcing details on the projects being funded, as well as the process that other communities can use to apply for support under this program.
Mr. Speaker, this initiative is one of a number of programs that social program departments are working on to address our commitment to provide NWT residents with greater opportunity to choose a healthy lifestyle.
In the next few weeks, my social program colleagues and I will be providing you with additional information on how we are incorporating this goal into various aspects of our departmental plans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause