Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every two years, athletes from across the northern part of our world come together to participate in the Arctic Winter Games. This event was first hosted in Yellowknife in 1970. This year, from March 5th through the 11th, athletes from the Northwest Territories will travel to Whitehorse to participate in the 16th Arctic Winter Games. Three hundred sixteen athletes from the Northwest Territories will participate.
At this point in time, I would like to congratulate each of these athletes for making the Northwest Territories Arctic Winter Games team. I would especially like to congratulate the three athletes from the Deh Cho who have attained positions on Team NWT.
Mr. Speaker, although I celebrate the three athletes from the Deh Cho who made the team, I have to express my concern that only three athletes from the four communities in my constituency were successful.
Mr. Speaker, colleagues, perhaps it is time for the Northwest Territories to re-evaluate its participation in the Arctic Winter Games. We must ensure that youth from smaller communities are given a fair opportunity to participate. We must investigate further to determine the barriers that prevent youth in a small community from being selected to the Northwest Territories teams.
The costs for participating in the Arctic Winter Games selection process are high. In my region, in order to participate in the regional trials, all athletes had to pay a fee. If the athlete is successful at the regional level, they must pay an additional fee to participate at the territorial level. Then again, if the athlete is successful at making the Northwest Territories team, they pay another fee. Mr. Speaker, the hockey team from my community could not raise the funds so did not participate in the trials. We have to question how families with low incomes and a number of children raise the money.
Further, Mr. Speaker, we all know the social problems in our communities are high. However, most of our youth that participate at the games are under the age of 19 years. How do we address the youth from the ages of 20 to 24? Are we sending the message that participation in sport ends once you have reached 20?
We are entering a new millennium. Perhaps now is the time to enter into a new type of games for the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause