Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, if you are young, you do not have much patience. When you want something, you want it right away. I imagine there are many young people out there who have not qualified for the Arctic Winter Games or other areas who want to see some action.

Can the Minister commit to some sort of timeline? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although there are certainly facilities in most of these communities, the second part of the question is do they have resources available to them that they can utilize? When I speak of resources I am talking about supporting coaches, financial resources, equipment, and so on.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister, during the review for the Arctic Winter Games trials and the whole Arctic Winter Games, and the question of our participation in it, as part of the review, can the Minister also look into the smaller communities, particularly the communities in the Sahtu and others that are not participating, to see if the resources available to every small community are sufficient to truly participate in the sporting arena of the Northwest Territories? I am not only speaking of the Arctic Winter Games. I am also speaking of the Canada Summer Games, or the Dene Games, and so on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in support of Mr. McLeod's statement on the review of the Arctic Winter Games, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Antoine, if all communities in the Northwest Territories have the facilities and resources available to them to truly partake in tryouts for various sporting events, and have any chance of success? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize all of the people in the gallery who are from Tu Nedhe. I cannot see anyone that is up there, so I cannot recognize anybody specific. I would suggest maybe we place a mirror on that wall, so there is a reflection of the people who are here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker and honourable colleagues, in light of recent accomplishments by Canada's national sports organizations, Melanie Turgeon with the National Women's Downhill Ski Team winning gold and the Canadian National Soccer Team winning an international tournament, both of which has received national and international media attention, I wish to recognize and congratulate one of the Northwest Territories' own - dog musher Grant Beck - on his recent victory in Spain.

This Yellowknife resident competed with 47 dog mushing teams in a 200 mile trek through the Pyrenees Mountains. The event was the 2000 Pirena Stage Race. It took 15 days to complete the course.

Mr. Beck and his team came in first place, nearly eight minutes ahead of the second place team from Norway. Mr. Beck put Canada in first place on the world stage of international competition.

Mr. Beck has been racing dog teams for more than 30 years, since he was six years old. It is a fine family tradition. His two brothers and cousins are also dog mushers. Training for this race began last April. Mr. Beck put in 2,500 miles just to prepare for Spain.

During the 2000 Pirena, Mr. Beck raced with a dozen Alaskan huskies, often through very steep hills and high velocity winds. Mr. Beck says his next challenge will be the Iditarod in a few years.

This is good, as the Northwest Territories' only contestant in this event, Dave Olson from Hoarfrost River, announced yesterday that he is retiring. I want to acknowledge the great contribution Mr. Beck has made to the sport of dog mushing in the Northwest Territories and throughout the world. I wish him well in his next goal, to complete the Iditarod. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am also in support of the principle of this bill. I have concerns similar to those of my colleagues. I think the problem of education in the Northwest Territories involves much more than student/teacher ratios and special needs.

I think this government has to be proactive in looking at ways of developing an education system that is reflective of the needs of the people. One way this could be done is to restructure the existing boards so that it is more reflective of the community they are supposed to represent. The Dogrib Community Services Board is a good example of that. I would be very happy to see some statistics since they took over the education, health and social services department and started running it their own way. A good friend of mine is working in that area, and he has nothing but good things to say about it.

In the communities I represent, along with the Yellowknives, they want to start their own board, similar to that of the Dogrib's. But they are running into roadblocks. People who have control now do not want to give it up. We are going to have to be tough and say you are going to have to give up control to the people who know the kids and the problems in the communities. Let them run it the way they see fit.

In the transfer of these programs and services, there has to be some thought given to incremental costs. People are starting to wise up to this government. This government gives out programs and services, but does not give enough resources to run those programs and services. They are hitting roadblocks right off the bat, and that is not a good way to start things.

Another area this government has to look at is improving the facilities. A lot of the facilities in the Northwest Territories schools are old and need improvement. Like my honourable colleague over here said earlier, there is no money. If we find some money for this area, we should not have to delve into other social programs costs. The government has a big challenge ahead of them to be imaginative in finding new sources of revenue.

Mr. Speaker, I am in support of the principle of this bill, but I do believe you have to take a comprehensive look at the whole education system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Financial shortages seem to be a problem right across the board. Has the Department of Transportation looked at alternatives to calcium in topping off existing unpaved roads in the Northwest Territories for greater stability, strength and longer lasting topsoil? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister tell me what he means by possible? Is it financial shortages that is making it impossible or is it an unwillingness from the department? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is also for the Minister of Transportation.

In my campaign, on the south side of the lake especially, my constituents told me repeatedly that there is too much emphasis placed on diamonds, and the fact that this stretch of road between here and Rae is for diamonds. The trucks that are damaging the road are going up to BHP, Diavik or Lupin. The federal government collects money, royalties and taxes from people who are employed there. This should be a federal government responsibility. The Minister should go to Ottawa and say "Hey, put your money where your mouth is, walk the walk, walk the talk or something."

There is a stretch of mile between Fort Resolution and the old Pine Point site. There is a stretch there that is under lake level. We are talking potholes. Can the Minister commit to a plan over the next couple of years to see what the department can do to improve that section and put a hardtop throughout the whole road straight to downtown Fort Resolution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.