Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last several weeks as we’ve discussed the budget, there have been many references and discussions about this Assembly’s priorities and youth being high on our list.
It’s a well-known fact there are positive effects from being physically active for anyone, no matter what their age. It’s also well known that involvement in sports and recreation activities can have a profound effect on a young person and that they benefit mentally, psychologically, physically and economically. Youth who are physically active are far healthier than those who are not. They generally live a healthier lifestyle, are less likely to abuse alcohol or drugs and often do better in school.
Many lessons can be learned through competitive physical activity, and these lessons have a positive impact on the developing character of a young person. Youth are usually looking for rules and guidelines to help them find their way as they grow up and mature. Sports and recreation activities often provide that for them.
This Assembly, through our goals and priorities set in December of last year, has identified both youth and healthy living as important to us all. We need to ensure we put our money where our mouth is, as the saying goes, Mr. Speaker, and invest in our youth and the activities they need to develop their potential.
I was very pleased to hear that sport and recreation officers would be retained in our communities instead of considered as a budget reduction. That move is one in the right direction, and we need to continue to move in that direction over the life of this Assembly. Our budgets must commit significant funds to youth and youth activities such as sport and recreation.
GNWT is lucky to have several sports and recreation bodies committed to the advancement of a healthy, physically active population, particularly our youth. Organizations such as Sport North, the Council of Sport and Recreation Partners, NWT Parks and Recreation Association and the Aboriginal Sports Circle all work for us for the betterment of our residents. They’re successful in large part because of the efforts of volunteers who believe in the cause of youth, sport and recreation.
As an Assembly I urge us to take advantage of this unseen, valuable workforce, to allocate the dollars necessary for the operation of these organizations and thus ensure the continued, positive advancement of our young people. I look forward to seeing concrete evidence of that in next year’s budget.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
