Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Hay River Ski Club has been receiving financial support from the Hay River lottery terminals for the past 30 years. For the last five years, the Hay River Ski Club's share has been $33,655 annually. This funding is vital to the club. The maintenance and operation of the current facility is the sole financial responsibility of the Hay River Ski Club, which is operated entirely by a group of volunteers using proceeds from the lottery fund.
Mr. Speaker, this funding came through the Legacy Retailer Grant Program Agreement that was in place with NWT Sport and Recreation Council from 2016 to 2021. What started as a change to address a potential tax liability issue in 2014 and now, with government involvement, has caused a situation where the club will lose 100 percent of their operating grant that has been provided through lottery proceeds collected in Hay River. With this agreement now expiring and, going forward, if the Hay River Ski Club is expected to survive they will require continued and ongoing funding.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the dedicated executive, board of directors, and volunteers, they were able to successfully host many different events, including learn to ski lessons, waxing clinics, social ski and snowshoeing, educational programs, Pat Bobinski memorial ski races, Biathlon Polar Cup, Arctic Winter Games trials and Arctic Winter Games events.
Mr. Speaker, the group of volunteers were able to reopen all of their trail system for the first time in several years. This included the Brendan Green Olympic Trail. Yes, the Hay River Ski Club helped develop an Olympian, something that must not be lost in all this. This system includes 15 kilometers of groomed trails of which seven are lit and opened at the end of October to mid-April. This past winter, the Hay River Ski Club had approximately 260 members on top of youth programs in biathlon, Jackrabbits, and Ski Bunnies.
There has been a significant growth in membership, which includes many youth and families. The GNWT promotes a healthy lifestyle for children and NWT residents. The Hay River Ski Club, on a limited budget, which may now disappear, is trying to support that ideal.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government would be remiss not to support an opportunity to promote sports and healthy lifestyles, of not only Hay River youth and residents, but those residents from around the NWT who continue to benefit from trails and programs managed by a volunteer board and workers of the Hay River Ski Club.
Mr. Speaker, if this government truly wants to support the mental and physical well-being of our youth, then it is important we find the funds to support the Hay River Ski Club this year and into the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.