Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi to the Minister for that. In my statement, I also referenced another article. The executive director of Sport North was interviewed and stated that they didn't track the athletes' ethnicities so therefore, they did not know the number of Indigenous athletes. Does the Minister find that concerning given that the NWT is home to about 50 percent of Indigenous peoples? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I referenced a news article which found that 71 percent of athletes were from Yellowknife alone. Does the Minister find that statistic concerning given that the NWT is home to 33 communities in total? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken many times throughout this Assembly about the importance of sports and recreation in the lives of youth, especially in small communities. Today I want to continue speaking on that issue.

Mr. Speaker, according to a recent article from CKLB News, there were 101 athletes from the NWT who attended the Canada Winter Games in PEI between February and March. And of those athletes whose home communities are publicly available, 71 percent of them are from Yellowknife.

Now in a territory with 33 communities, does that situation seem fair to you, Mr. Speaker?

In addition, Mr. Speaker, there was a different article from Cabin Radio who interviewed the executive director of Sport North, which is the organization that oversees Team NWT at the games. And Cabin Radio asked about the number of Indigenous athletes on Team NWT. The answer to that question was that they do not track their athletes' ethnicities so therefore they did not know the number of Indigenous athletes.

In the territory that's half Indigenous, does that situation seem fair to you, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I'm pointing out these inequities because there is a clear disparity of opportunity here between athletes from small communities versus athletes from Yellowknife, particularly for Indigenous youth. As someone who's been involved in sports and recreation for quite some time, the state of sport is very poor right now.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to comment on the prospect of Yellowknife hosting the 2026 Arctic Winter Games.

First of all, I think that is a very good idea, and I had hope that the City of Yellowknife and the GNWT would accept and take on this major international sporting recent. Yellowknife has hosted the Arctic Winter Games four times now, with the last time being in 2008. So it's already proven that it's more than capable of hosting these games. The NWT last hosted the games in 2018, which Hay River and Fort Smith co-hosted very successfully. I don't understand what the hesitation now is to host the games in 2026. This type of event is a huge opportunity for young athletes to participate in, and since it would be taking place within the NWT it would be easier for athletes from the small communities to participate as well. I could go on, Mr. Speaker, but I will leave it there. I will have questions for the MACA Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Bill 23, Bill 29, Minister Statement 264-19(2) and Tabled Document 681-19(2) and would like to report progress. And Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. And mahsi to the Minister for those answers. There have been about four of the public units that were burnt and also five seniors' homes on the Beaver Road. I'm wondering what are Housing NWT's plans to replace those units moving forward? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. What I'm getting at there is that the renters in the housing public rental units on the reserve are the responsibility of Housing NWT in the Northwest Territories, and not go for any other community. And I'm wondering why was there no provisions made to pay for accommodations like hotel rooms and their meals while they were temporarily removed from their public rental units? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. At the point of evacuation and the days leading afterwards, there was no messages or messaging to the public renters on available accommodations or what Housing NWT was going to do to accommodate finding them suitable units, and many were, you know, handicapped and many were elderly, and there was many women that were pregnant at that time. So I'm really wondering how Housing NWT missed that boat. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my original questions were geared for the MACA Minister, and unfortunately, or fortunately, for him, he's not in the House for the next couple days. However, I do have questions for the housing Minister.

I understand there were several public housing units operated by Housing NWT on the reserve on KFN, all who had to evacuate. My question is what arrangements were made to accommodate these evacuees to find suitable temporary accommodations in other communities? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Sunday, May 14th will go down as the day the residents of K'atlodeeche First Nations will never forget. That is the day a fire was started by unknown sources close to the old village and new site of K'atlodeeche. By late afternoon, the fire gained momentum and grew by the minute. That for the safety of KFN residents, they were evacuated across the river to Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, that fire became known as the KFN fire. The month of May has always been considered as having moderate temperatures, but this spring was like no other as we were facing very dry conditions and a heat wave. So dry, even a spark could ignite a fire.

Mr. Speaker, this spring, the residents of KFN were spared from a major flood as in all previous years in which they were evacuated to points beyond, including the Yellowknife multiplex. It is with heavy hearts we had to hear of another catastrophe faced by the K'atlodeeche First Nations residents. Heavy hearts as they were still dealing with the effects of last year's major flood and the ongoing remediation work to many homes.

Mr. Speaker, the major KFN fire affected the town of Hay River as evacuation orders were issued for both the town and KFN. Residents were scattered to Enterprise, Fort Resolution, Fort Providence, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, and Yellowknife in the NWT. Many other residents went south to stay with family and friends. Many residents were put up in hotels and available buildings where they were available, cots, couches and what have you, to provide as much comfort as possible during these difficult times.

Mr. Speaker, many of the evacuated residents are very thankful for everyone opening their doors to them and providing meals and hospitality. It always goes without saying that we should be helping our neighbours through their difficult times, as trying as the situations may be, to provide the necessities of life. Mahsi to all the communities involved and the numerous volunteers involved to assist in the KFN fire of 2023. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.