Thanks, Mr. Chair. I participated in the review of the bill sometimes as an alternate to the committee. I want to thank the chair and the committee colleagues for their hard work on the review of the bill. The chair has discussed how the scope of the bill was really limited to protecting the existing fund from taxation. I know that there was universal support from all the parties that we heard from in the standing-room-only public hearing that was held. I think that is the most people I have ever seen in Committee Room A.

I think, as my colleague from Yellowknife Centre said, this did become a venue for discussion of the needs for both the sports and recreation community and the arts community. I think it is also fair to say that it was a respectful discussion amongst all the parties. That is an important fact that I don't want anybody to lose.

I think we found other ways to begin to address some of the concerns raised by the arts community. I know that the Minister of Finance has made a commitment on the floor of this committee in previous discussion to increase the NWT Arts Council funding by $200,000. That is a welcome addition to their funding.

There has also been a commitment to carry out a comprehensive review of our support for the arts that is basically split between Education, Culture and Employment and Industry, Tourism and Investment and will consider structural changes, as well. Those are two important things that have come out of the budget that will begin to address some of the concerns that have been raised by the arts community. There is more that I think we need to pay attention to in terms of its contribution to wellbeing in all of our communities here in the Northwest Territories.

On the review of the bill itself, the two changes that have been proposed by committee, and I support them, are, firstly, to ensure that there is some greater accountability around the sports and recreation fund itself. That is partly because it is not a revolving fund, but it is a special fund. The current accountability requirements set out in the Financial Administration Act and the policy dealing with these sorts of funds, don't really require full disclosure. I think the committee members were pleased to work with the Minister on this to come up with an annual reporting requirement that is one of the additions that is now in the bill to ensure that there is greater transparency and accountability. I want to thank the Minister and her staff for the collaborative approach on changing the bill.

The other amendment was with regard to the list of designated purposes for the bill. There have been some concerns raised about the inclusion of multi-sport games as one of the defined purposes of the fund. The department also, through its appropriations, has funding for this purpose. Unfortunately, it is declining over the last couple of years and many decline again in the future. That is not something that I support. The removal of that as a specified purpose is something that I can support in terms of the bill itself. I want to encourage the department to stop those cuts, but that is a discussion to be held elsewhere.

The Minister still has the discretion to use the fund itself for multi-sport games. She did commit, during the clause-by-clause review, that the first avenue will be use of the appropriation that the department has. Secondly, she said that the next step would be to seek a supplementary appropriation. Thirdly, if necessary, the sports and recreation fund could be used to support multi-sport games. I agree with that approach. I do support the two amendments that have been proposed. I support the report coming from the committee.

The one area that I think other Members may not necessarily agree with but I am going to say it is: I think there needs to be an inclusive approach to defining the terminology of "recreation." I know there has been some work done at the national level. The committee has highlighted that work in its report.

The Minister has committed to work with the sports and recreation organizations to do some further work on that definition. I think that needs to be a public process. I would encourage the Minister to ensure that there is a more inclusive approach in defining that. Developing some guidelines, I think, around the use of the funds will ensure that they are used appropriately, but we need a more inclusive process for defining recreation.

Those are my remarks, Mr. Chair. Once again, I want to thank the committee and the Minister for their hard work on this bill. I think it has resulted in a good compromise all around. Thank you, MR. Chair.