Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we gradually approach the spring season, Mr. Speaker, we are getting into the season of carnivals, festivals and events in communities across the Northwest Territories. It is interesting to note that, last year, a couple of our real hallmark events, the Folk on the Rocks festival celebrated its 20th anniversary and the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik commemorated 15 years. This year in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, will mark the 10th year of the Snow King festival down on Yellowknife Bay, and it's the 50th anniversary of Caribou Carnival.

Mr. Speaker, these principally volunteer-run festivals and events are not having good days right now. They are suffering from a lack of continuity and, I think, Mr. Speaker, a real lack of support from the Government of the Northwest Territories; especially when it comes to recognizing their significance as the primary vehicles, the real showcases of our northern culture, northern lifestyle and, of course, our arts and crafts, sports and recreation.

The Arts Strategy released late last year, Mr. Speaker, was something that I had hoped to see as a real opportunity for our government to step up to the plate and show our communities and our volunteers just how important these festivals are, but there was, regrettably, nothing in the Arts Strategy, Mr. Speaker, despite the principal recommendations of a panel that spent two years surveying the Northwest Territories. One of those recommendations was to expand funding levels, flexibility and support, multi-year and ongoing funding, for important regional festivals and other activities.

Mr. Speaker, as we come into this season of festivals, we need to recognize that there is a big gap in this government's recognition of the significance and the importance of festivals and events as something that showcases just who we are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause