Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been many questions over the last while on the level of support the Government of Northwest Territories would provide to the City of Yellowknife should the City decide to bid on the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Can the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs clarify for this Assembly and the residents of Yellowknife, the GNWT's commitment to financing the operations and infrastructure requirements to host the games? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, I need to preface anything I say about the Canada Winter Games by stating that I can’t speak for the will of the House, its Members, committees, or the actions of future government. It is understood that a games bid by the City of Yellowknife would require the GNWT to support its share of the operational infrastructure requirements as per the standard Canada Winter Games tri-party agreement. If the City makes a bid, the GNWT will mobilize our departments to come up with potential financing models to meet the GNWT funding obligations. Our initial take was that this is an exercise that was doable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thanks to the Minister for his reply. One of the other complaints I hear is that given the current state of the economy, it will be difficult for the GNWT and the City to come up with the required funding. Can the Minister comment, please, in this regard?
One of the things we need to remember is that it is seven years until the Canada Winter Games in 2023, and there are seven GNWT planning cycles prior to that. This gives us some time and flexibility to come up with the necessary funding to support our part of the Canada Winter Games.
Thank you again to the Minister for his reply. One of the other concerns I hear is the GNWT’s support for the building of an athletes' village. Can the Minister shed some light on the GNWT's role in the construction of an athletes' village?
Speaking as the Minister responsible for Infrastructure, I can tell you that if the City decides to proceed with the bid, and subject to direction from the Financial Management Board, the NWT Housing Corporation is prepared to enter and negotiate a 70/30 split on the construction of an athletes' village that will meet the needs of the Canada Winter Games and the NWT Housing Corporation for public housing. Given the expected increase in the number of seniors, this would also be a project that would benefit the seniors in the Northwest Territories as well. There is a possibility that we can use some federal social infrastructure money to pay for the government's share. We will obviously work with the City to see what they can come up with as far as their 30 per cent.
Masi. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I again thank you for the response from the Minister. I have a sense that most folks do want the Canada Winter Games, but the biggest question continues to be how will the City afford their part. City council is giving consideration next week toward the possibility of a hotel levy, which could have considerable ability to support costs for the games. My question to the Minister is: Will the government support working with the City of Yellowknife to possibly enact a hotel levy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Canada Winter Games 2023 is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the city of Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories to those across the country with the national exposure it will get as far as media coverage goes. As far as a hotel levy, I think there are some amendments that need to be made to municipal legislation that would allow the local municipal governments to, through bylaw, create, collect, and administer levies on hotels. Until that legislation is done there is nothing stopping them from creating a destination-marketing fee that would apply only to the city or to each municipality as they decide to do so. It is a priority of Municipal and Community Affairs, and I think the initial work is going to begin during the life of this Assembly, to give the communities the opportunity to enact one, if that was the community's desire.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
