Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank my colleague for that statement. It’s very meaningful. Mr. Speaker, today I’m going to talk about the Ulukhaktok arena closure. The arena in Ulukhaktok has been closed since late last year when the hamlet council received the consultant’s report indicating that the building is contaminated with mould. According to the Hamlet, “a significant amount of mould was found on surfaces in both the hockey and curling rink. The report also indicated that mould was found in the air quality test in the lobby, kitchen, washrooms, and change rooms.” Mr. Speaker, mould spores occur naturally and can be found in the air both inside and outdoors. When these spores encounter a moist environment, they begin to grow and release toxins. Mould contamination can cause allergic reactions in some people, with younger people being more susceptible than most. Ice arenas, which have a high indoor relative humidity, can provide a perfect environment for mould growth. The hamlet did the right thing by closing the arena while dealing with this mould issue to minimize the potential health threat to children and other arena users. Unfortunately, the closure of the arena poses other risks to young people in Ulukhaktok, risks associated with boredom and lack of physical activity.
As we know, the benefits of physical activity in children and youth are extensive, with many direct and associated positive outcomes. Regular physical activity is associated with lower blood pressure and lower rates of obesity and diabetes. It is also positively linked to better mental health outcomes such as better social skills, improved academic performance and reduce rates of anxiety and depression. For this reason, it concerns me greatly to see Ulukhaktok’s arena is scheduled to be closed for such a long time. The consultant’s report revealed that it was a design flaw in the building, specifically, a lack of mechanical ventilation which caused the mould. The Hamlet is working to correct these issues and hopes to reopen the facility this fall. Later today, I will have questions for the Municipal and Community Affairs Minister about what the department is doing to assist Ulukhaktok to remediate the arena and re-open it to the public as safely and quickly as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Nahendeh.
