Mr. Speaker, my question this afternoon is for Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. It relates to the imminent creation of the NWT council of sport and recreation partners. Could the Minister advise what are the issues and problems that are going to be resolved with the creation of this new sport governing body in the NWT? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Return To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Henry Zoe

North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member for Great Slave knows the history of this new NWT council of sports and recreation partners; it is going to be established next month. We have interim people who are helping us to establish this new sports partners. They are going to be in full operation maybe in the fall time. As I indicated during my opening comments, I was in a hot seat all day. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, I am afraid I am going to have to use my second question to repeat my first one. What are the issues or the problems that require the creation of yet another governing body in support of recreation? I would really like to know why this organization has to be brought forward. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Further Return To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Henry Zoe

North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many communities, recreation associations and individuals identify the need for improved government structure for the management of the NWT sport and recreation programs and services. So we initiated the full process of gathering all the partners together and had a discussion paper. That particular group made recommendations to the previous Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Through their recommendations, they created this new Northwest Territories sports and recreation partners. These partners, Mr. Speaker, are the Aboriginal Sports Circle of Western Arctic, Beaufort-Delta Sahtu Recreation Association, Mackenzie Recreation Association, NWT Recreation and Parks Association, Sport North Federation and their territorial sport organization. These are the people who are going to be forming this new council.

As I indicated, we have primary goals for this particular group: to provide a forum so communities and partners can have a voice in sports and recreation planning and decision-making; to initiate a discussion with sports and recreation partners and regional representatives on how we can streamline decision-making, improve program coordination and identify new ways to act as resources; to promote opportunities for all NWT residents to access sports, recreation and physical activity programs that are integral to improving health in community development. Those are our three primary goals of this new council. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that information. I am going to see that I get a couple more details on this. How many people are involved in this? Is there a budget figure given? The point I am getting at, Mr. Speaker, is that existing organizations, and especially the territorial sporting organizations, are concerned that meagre levels of resources are going to be further eroded by this new organization. I don’t want to take away from the purposes the Minister has outlined. But I am looking for some securities and some stability so that our existing organizations are going to be able to continue. Can the Minister give that assurance? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Further Return To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Henry Zoe

North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Honourable Member for Great Slave realizes, this new council is going to use their existing budget that they have under Sport North. By getting all of these people together, it is to streamline the decision-making of that whole group. Therefore, when I met with the Sport North Federation, there was no concern raised pertaining to this new council. I indicated to the Member when he asked the question of me, if the president of Sport North has discussed any concern pertaining to this new initiative. When I met with him, he didn’t raise any concerns. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, could the Minister advise what performance measures or what indicators of performance? Is it going to be meeting its objectives? How is this new council going to be measured for its success? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Further Return To Question 99-15(3): Rationale For NWT Council Of Sport And Recreation Partners

Henry Zoe

North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, time is going to determine how effective this group is. Once we have them into operation, our department will be working very closely with this new council so that we will monitor them. They will be making recommendations specifically to different programs and services that our department provides. They will be initiating other types of programs for the benefit of all the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.