Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think MLA Semmler would probably say she was the most important person, and she was there, and she did a great job representing the Northwest Territories there. Municipal and Community Affairs regional recreation coordinators are actively involved in sharing information to all the communities. That's with the rec leaders; that's what the SAOs or the band managers. So we get that information out there. I can also confirm information on the selection process and deadlines were shared numerous times. As well we work with the schools to get that information...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending and refereeing the Paul Stipdonk Memorial Soccer Tournament. It was the first time since the pandemic cancelling the last couple of years. As I stated previously in this House, this tournament is a bit unique in that we don't keep score, teams are mixed up, and we do not have a winner or loser. The focus is on the youth having fun and playing the sport; something the namesake was all about. Besides playing the sport, the youth are given the opportunity to attend a skills competition event on Saturday.

This year we had...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I get to proudly say I was part of the first Kole Crook Fiddle organization when one of the cofounders, Lewis Beck, reached out to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and said hey, I got this great idea, we'd like to recognize Kole Crook for all his great work and this is what we're trying to do. So the Member explained perfectly what the Kole Crook Fiddle Association does. But I think the most important thing it's the love that they're able to provide our youth. This has made a huge impact on a number of youth across the Northwest...

Thank you. I'm going to embarrass the a Member a bit here. I'd like to thank him very much for his advocacy for the youth, especially when it comes to something as important as recreation opportunities for our youth. He's been very good at getting across the message, whether it's with his riding or other ridings, so I'd like to thank him for that.

What I can do is I can confirm the department is working closely with the Kole Crook Fiddle Association to support their upcoming fiddle jamboree in January and MACA and Kole Crook Fiddle Association has entered into a oneyear funding agreement to...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs continues to be engaged in flood recovery, and I am pleased to provide Members with an overview of the efforts taken to date and the status of the ongoing work. Flood recovery is communities driven and supported by the territorial and federal governments. There are many actions to be coordinated:

address local concerns and impacts;.

provide territorial supports and processes;

working with the federal government; and,

The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to work with impacted community...

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member of Yellowknife South that Bill 66, An Act to Amend the Property Assessment and Taxation Act, be read for the second time.

This bill makes several amendments to the Property Assessment and Taxation Act. The bill adjusts and clarifies certain definitions. It also gives the director of assessments greater authority in respect of first assessment orders, corrections to the rolls, and carrying out supplementary assessments.

The bill updates provisions respecting municipal boards of revision, territorial boards of...

So I got two minutes and five seconds to go here? Just joking. I'm make a commitment again. I thought I made a commitment to the second question. But, yes, I will go to the Member's I'll go with the other Ministers as well. I think the Member is doing a great job, and I'm more than willing to work with his communities on this. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

No. I'm just joking. Yes, so the process is very much communitydriven. The community needs to reach out to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, the sport and recreation and youth coordinators. They do work out to them. And start working on it, working together. The staff is available. I can tell you from my experience in 1994 when I became the recreation development officer, I started working on the Mackenzie Rec Association, and it is a very valid organization, and so is the BDSRA. It was a very valid organization. It addressed some of the things that the Member talked about...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Municipal and Community Affairs does provide funding for 36 youth centres across the Northwest Territories under the Youth Initiative Program. We contribute about $14,000 to each facility to support their operations. MACA is committed to establishing an interdepartmental working group on youth to provide the GNWT a forum that will be able to coordinate youth programs and services to support local community priorities. And that's part of the youth strategy that we're working on.

However, the question that the Member asked, if there's a community that wishes to establish...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this program continues to support children, primarily from the age of 0 to 5, for program opportunities to support physical literacy, an important part of development in long you know, lifelong active lifestyles. As I said previous in the other question, I can commit to work with the department and committee during the main review to consider future funding for this program. It is very important. It does some really good benefits. It starts at a young age and the work that's done in the community. So, yes, I will work with committee to review this...