Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Denny Rodgers is calling for stronger support for youth participation in the Arctic Winter Games and sustainable funding for sports across the territory.
At the legislature on Monday, Rogers said he was disappointed to hear that snowshoeing will not be included as a sport in the 2026 games taking place in Whitehorse.
He said the event should focus on giving youth a chance to take part, regardless of the size of their community or the level of facilities available to them.
Rodgers said that with growing social challenges in NWT, including youth addictions and limited recreation options in smaller communities, investing in sport remains essential to give young people positive opportunities and keep the spirit of the games alive.
“The Arctic Winter Games represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for kids from the regions, from smaller communities, and certainly from our capital in Yellowknife,” he said during the assembly. “Is it time that we ask ourselves, is the Arctic Winter Games about medals or is it about participation?”
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Rodgers said that while the NWT’s Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Fund – which has been hit by declining lottery revenues – has provided opportunities for high-level athletes, many youth in smaller communities rely on it to participate in sports they may otherwise never have the chance to try.
He pointed to interactive gaming as a potential new source of revenue to support sport programs, particularly those that reach smaller and more isolated communities. Regulated online gaming and betting, he said, could help generate revenue for sustainable recreation funding across the territory.
Last year, an independent consultant delivered a presentation to a committee of MLAs about the pros and cons of regulating that form of gaming in NWT.
Communities minister Vince McKay said discussions about that kind of regulation are ongoing, though a legislative proposal has not yet been finalized.
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Asked about plans for the Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Fund, McKay said the department is exploring several approaches.
“One of them is obviously submitting to the government for more funding to help support that,” he said.
“However, we also need to fine-tune what we’re doing – looking at expenses, looking at what we’re paying for in order to contribute to the actual fund itself, to make sure that the funds are actually getting to the athletes and their abilities to participate in sports and games.”
