Debates of November 28, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is addressed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. I want to follow up on the question posed by Mr. Ramsay relative to the soccer teams and territorial trials and changing of rules midstream. The Minister has addressed the issue of the deadline being changed, but it is my understanding, as well, that the regions were allowed to recruit players from other regions and combine players from one or more different regions to field a team within their own region, but that Yellowknife was not allowed this courtesy. I wonder if the Minister could give me some clarification, please. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Return To Question 57-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the two regions decided that they wanted to cross-fill some positions that were vacant on their team. There were a number of players that did not have teams to play on. There were a number of communities that didn’t have teams try out at all. In this instance with soccer, there were two players from Fort Smith that had no team to play on. Fort Smith did not have a team in that division. They requested, and were allowed, to try out for the Mackenzie regional team which had one vacant position. That position was filled by one player from Fort Smith. The other one was not selected and does not have a team to play on now. Yes, there was an allowance made for cross-filling the positions in the vacant positions on teams.

Yellowknife didn’t have the same opportunity because every team position was filled in every category and there was no need to look at cross-filling from another region, Mr. Speaker. The sports organizations didn’t allow Yellowknife to try out for another region because they had an opportunity to try out in Yellowknife. That was the reason, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Supplementary To Question 57-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to say that I think that there is a huge amount of unfairness in the way that this has proceeded. I don’t feel that players should be allowed after rules have been fully investigated, from what I understand, some time ago. The rules were changed. There was agreement among all parties that the rules should be as they were, that the players should not be able to join teams from another region. I understand the Minister’s desire to have more players than fewer players compete, but I think it is an extremely unfair process. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he is intending to review this process with all of the sports governing bodies which are involved and all the parties which are involved and if these rules will be changed back to the way they were and if those will be maintained for the next time trials come around. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 57-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, those rules were not changed by myself or MACA. Those rules were agreed upon by all of the sports organizations, including Sport North. The decision was made a year ago to try to encourage more athletes to take part. I am sure we could have left it with some teams having vacant slots. I am sure we could have left some of the players in the communities having no place to try out on, but, Mr. Speaker, the intent here is to try to encourage more people to take part in the Arctic Winter Games, have a truly territorial sport and have opportunity for all of the kids in the North. That is what we were attempting to do with the sports partners in the NWT. We have reviewed the situation. We don’t feel that anything was done was improper. I have checked with all of the sports organizations, including Sport North and organizations across the Territories. They all agree that this is the best way to move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.