Debates of November 28, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an issue has come to light here, and I know the Arctic Winter Games is coming to Yellowknife here in March of 2008 and the trials are going to be coming up here. There’s been an issue with the selection process as it pertains to soccer teams and rules being changed mid-stream. There were rules in place and the Department of MACA has made a decision to waive rules that were in place governing the selection process. I do want to thank the Minister for taking the time to get me some background material and meeting with me on this, but I really do think that we need to come up with a better explanation for the governing bodies out there who make the rules for sport in the Northwest Territories as to why rules were changed mid-stream. So if I could ask the Minister why were the rules changed mid-stream to allow players to access regional teams? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Return To Question 54-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I should correct the Member that MACA did not overrule the decision to extend the deadline for sporting events for Arctic Winter Games; that decision was made by the sports partners, including Sport North and the regional recreation associations. I believe the deadline was extended to allow for more participants. This year there were several changes made to the Arctic Winter Games process. There was a creation of a new region; the Sahtu region was created. There was also the decision made to allow for the Mackenzie region to make decisions on behalf of the Mackenzie region and the South Slave; also that the Beaufort-Delta Sports would also make decisions on behalf of their organizations; and the Sahtu and Sport North would be making decisions on behalf of Yellowknife. So those decisions were made and after the deadline of April 1st, they got together and recognized that there was low turnout because…Oh, the third…I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker. The third decision was to have the trials set up a year in advance of the Arctic Winter Games and after the April 1st deadline there was recognition that there was low turnout, there wasn’t good communication, there were other things that were happening at the same time, the Canada Games, and they decided to extend the deadline. It was an agreement among all the sports partners and not MACA. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 54-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response, but it just begs the question if you have rules in place, especially when it comes to our young people out there in our communities who are entering into a selection process with deadlines and time frames, not to mention the amount of volunteers that provide their time to sporting endeavours, I’m wondering why, if we have rules in place, why would we forget the rules and change those rules to allow people to apply after a deadline that was set before that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 54-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the agreement was between the Sports and Recreation Council and all the partners, that if there was consensus that a policy had to be adjusted or changed and everybody agreed, that they could do that. In this case, there would have been a very low turnout for Arctic Winter Games because the changes made for selections, they decided that they need to encourage more people to take part. I don’t see what was wrong with that decision, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 54-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Rules are set up for the issue of fairness and integrity and that’s what sport is based on. If you are going to what appears to be a double standard for regional participation as opposed to athletes here in Yellowknife, then somebody has to explain that to the soccer community here in Yellowknife on how that happens. It has to be explained to everyone. The question I have is, why have rules if they are going to be broken, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 54-16(1): 2008 Arctic Winter Games

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t see how there could be a double standard with every organization agreeing to it. The rules were changed; I agree. There was an extension of the deadline. Everybody agreed to it, including the representatives from Yellowknife. Sport North represents Yellowknife. They agreed to the change. I agree that there should be a better interpretation of the policies. Maybe they need to be tightened up. But in this case, Mr. Speaker, there was an attempt to involve more participants, more of the youth, and that has happened. We have increased the participation level up to 900; 150 athletes more than the last time around have taken part. I think that is a good thing, Mr. Speaker.