Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ditto, Mr. Speaker. As in previous years, a dedicated group of Northerners wants to participate on behalf of the Northwest Territories at the upcoming 2010 Canada 55-plus Games in Brockville, Ontario. Residents of the NWT have been participating on behalf of the Northwest Territories since 1998. During that first year, only one resident participated. Popularity of NWT participation has increased steadily since then and peaked at nearly 100 during the 2008 Games in Dieppe, New Brunswick.
There are a number of advantages for northern involvement in these games, not the least of which is that there can be significant savings realized in health care costs over the long term by keeping seniors active and involved. In previous years the GNWT has provided some financial support to participants through the NWT Seniors’ Society for planning and logistics. It is my understanding that these dollars were not used to cover the accommodation or travel costs but were used to help coordinate travel, accommodation and participant registration. These dollars were a huge asset to the participants that allowed for seamless and coordinated participation of Team NWT.
Unfortunately, any future funding for this initiative has been cancelled. It seems unreasonable to me that the GNWT would cut these support dollars, the dollars that help participants coordinate their activity as a team, as Team NWT. The NWT participants of the Canada 55-plus Games are not asking for the GNWT to cover the cost of their airfare or accommodations; they are asking for some funding depending on the number of participants to have assistance with the coordination of their participation, details such as arranging travel, registration and providing uniforms. Mr. Speaker, this is a reasonable request.
Later this afternoon I will be asking the Minister responsible for Seniors some questions and seeking her support of these athletes, the champions of the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.