Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, just in regards, we brought this up numerous times in regards to into my riding, you know, sport and recreation in the small coastal communities, travel will be the most impactful to get any child or sport in -- to travel for sport. You know, recreation, our youth, our communities, they do their best in regards to what's provided to the community, local community government, the community. And, you know, people are -- with my youth, I mean, we're already behind the eight ball. The opportunities they have are none almost, other than your -- if you're an elite athlete. I think that we brought this up in the House before that, you know, the Beaufort Delta as a whole, for having youth sport like soccer and different -- and different parts, soccer, basketball in different communities, that not just on the road system. Paulatuk, Sachs, and Ulukhaktok should be invited to those. We're failing those youth. The Minister knows it. I mean, the Minister lived in a small community and still lives in one. But at the end of the day, those youth are not being properly served. Our government, we're failing them in regards to that. We should be increasing travel or giving an increase in the budget for the Beaufort Delta at least by a million dollars for all nine communities to get youth out. Post-pandemic now, we're in a post-pandemic, you know, and we need to get them out. We need to get them active. We need to bring people in to motivational speak. We need to get coaches brought in for hockey, soccer, you know, even ping-pong, stuff like that. Something easy other than, you know, what -- the biggest thing I find with the communities that I represent, it's the same people doing it for hockey coaching, for volunteering. And people are tired, Madam Chair, in regards to that. People -- there's no recognition. Does our government give recognition for any of our volunteers? None. We say youth and recreation for, you know, children resiliency. A little increase, but we need to put our money where our mouth is. Recreation funding, we need to give that million dollars in increase and cut some of this other stuff off their budget. You know, youth contributions. Youth contributions are a big one for me. Everyone want to say, youth, youth, youth are our future but nothing's backing it up. Nothing. We really need to get -- get serious about this. Our generation coming up now, they're too much on cell phones and too much playing games. They're not out being active half the time because there's nothing happening in the community. We need help. Beaufort Delta, Nunakput needs help. This Minister could make a difference. You know, volunteer contributions, he should be given out awards, getting a list from us as Members to give awards out. A little bit of recognition will go a long way and maybe it'll pull people out to help. The cost of travel, again, we need to get that increase into our travel budget for the Beaufort Delta so all our youth could travel and participate and not just selected communities because they live on the road system. It's not fair. We really need to do this. And I'm really hoping the Minister hears this. And it's a lot of a -- a little bit of a rant, but I'm really -- I'm just tired. I'm tired. I worry about my youth all the time in my communities. We live it. You know, it's not because -- not -- it's just a really worrisome time right now we're in. We have to do something. And I hope this Minister hears me, and I hope our government hears me in regards to this because it's going to come into the budget and if not, we'll just start cutting. Find the money. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Jackie Jacobson on Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 28th, 2023. See this statement in context.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 1st, 2023
Page 5475
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