Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I just conclude by saying that I really see this debate as an opportunity for all of us in the North. It is an opportunity to implement a spectrum of quality early childcare education that begins at the age of one, not at the age of five, so that we give our children a real head start in life. There is just no more important work for us to do. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I know that Minister Ken Dryden is a huge hero to the hockey fans all across Canada, but, oh boy, if he could score this one in the net, I know he will be a hero to all Canadians for ever and ever...

Thank you. I’m glad that the Minister does understand what I am trying to say here, because I do believe that we were in the House when these questions came up. I can’t remember exactly when -- probably in the last two years and I don’t know exactly which group had applied for it -- but I do believe that the Minister of Health and Social Services, then and now, made an exception to those NGOs who are engaged in activities that makes it really hard to obtain insurance and if they did then their insurance costs are just exorbitantly high.

I think another example I could think of -- maybe not...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister has the need to lump this project with every other capital project need and I think that is where the mistake is, Mr. Speaker. We are talking about a very few communities in the Territories with no indoor facility, and even I know, as a Member from the largest city in the Territories, that an indoor gym is more than an indoor gym in communities. That is where they have tea dances and they have their meetings and it’s where the communities gather. So I am saying don’t lump them up with the big places like Wha Ti and Gameti in this context. We are...

...it’s a necessity and we are talking about some $46 million dollar surplus.

…and the lack of representation of youth from small communities in big sporting games. Now he has all the power in the world. He's a Minister of sport.

---Applause

He's the Minister of MACA. It's about time that he put his money where his mouth is and build a gym next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

A young offenders centre in Yellowknife has a gym, Mr. Speaker. We've spent millions on saving the secondary diamond industry that we're talking about, and offices in Yellowknife spend millions renovating. What do the children of Nahanni Butte think when they look at the Legislative Assembly and say we have no place to play soccer, and look at these MLAs? Mr. Speaker, I would like to know the government standard. Couldn't there be a rule that says every community should have a school, hospital, and an indoor gym?

…and fight for the children of Nahanni Butte. Mr. Speaker, we should all be ashamed…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join the Premier and everyone in this House in sending out my own very warm words of congratulations to the leaders and the people of Tlicho in obtaining Royal Assent to the document that would see their vision of a self-government become a reality, in short order.

Mr. Speaker, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 13 years since the Dene Métis Comprehensive Agreement was not able to be ratified. But, like most success stories, the Tlicho people were able to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and, with unrelenting efforts on the part of...

 Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 11-15(3) moved into Committee of the Whole for Monday, February 14, 2005. Thank you.

Is there not room for a $1 million gym for one community that has no indoor facilities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.