Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not going to be singing there. Good job. It’s pretty hard to cover on that, Norm. That’s awesome.
This weekend is a big weekend for all minor hockey students in Nunakput and the Beaufort-Delta. The Gwich’in Cup is upon us. We have I think probably 14 teams playing, with students all the way from Ulukhaktok and Sachs Harbour, Tuk, Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic. I’d like to thank today Chief Richard Nerysoo and Mary Ross from the Gwich’in Tribal Council for putting up this good tournament for our minor hockey players.
These tournaments are an excellent opportunity where students and youth from all across the Beaufort-Delta can participate in well-organized, fast-paced sports competitions. Unlike students and youth in other parts of Canada and even in the Northwest Territories, our youth have a rare opportunity to partake in such events. Communities such as Sachs Harbour, for example, rarely have the resources and numbers to contribute to a team.
I believe this government and various ministries responsibilities, from Health and Social Services to Municipal and Community Affairs, can get proactive with our youth. Having these highly organized competition sports helps our youth in areas such as teamwork, discipline, and healthy living.
Limited organized recreational sports and the high cost of supplies, the cost of transportation for a charter out of Ulukhaktok into Inuvik is probably $6,000. That’s for probably 14 children. I think we should be looking at that. I know the Minister’s working, not working, he has done so by putting a tournament coming up in Fort McPherson this year. I really thank the Minister for that as well.
I know that our youth are healthy, they have had healthy results, and this gives us a healthy community. That’s why we can challenge our government to follow through on promises and priorities established for our youth.
I look forward to seeing all our minor hockey kids in Inuvik this weekend and all the minor hockey kids’ moms and dads. I hope everyone has a safe weekend in Inuvik.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
