Nahanni Butte (Jan 28/05) - He's making no promises, but Municipal and Community Services Minister Michael McLeod said he's hopeful funding will be found for a gymnasium in Nahanni Butte.

Kakisa, Gameti and Nahanni Butte - a community of just over 100 people, 30 of them students - are the only communities in the NWTwithout a gymnasium.

Through Nahanni Butte's capital plan, MACAis not prepared to build a gym until 2012-13. However, McLeod said there's a chance that the new $16 million Municipal/Rural Infrastructure Fund ã established by the federal government, but the GNWT is considering matching some of the funds ã may contain the estimated $1.5 million needed to build a gym in Nahanni Butte.

Most of that fund is targeted towards "green projects" like water, waste water and sewage lagoons, according to McLeod. However, a remaining portion could be applied to facilities, the minister said, adding that a body comprising federal and territorial government officials will allot the funding with input from the NWTAssociation of Communities.

Another possibility that will soon be accessible is new municipal funds from the federal government through the "gas tax," which will be inherited later this year.

"We don't know what we're getting at this point. We're hoping we'll have some indication by spring," said McLeod, adding that current estimates range from $3 to $28 million.

As well, there's $40 million available through the Northern Strategy that has yet to be allocated.

"So there's three new pots of money that we can look at," McLeod said last week. Eric Betsaka, chief of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band, said he considers a gym to be "pretty crucial."

The facility would promote healthy lifestyles by giving residents, especially youth, a place to play sports, he suggested.

Currently the adolescents are limited to some ski time in school and a few recreational opportunities available through the small youth centre building, said Betsaka. A gym would also be a place to hold community gathering such as feasts, he added.

The community, particularly the school staff and students, has "really made a strong case" for a gym, McLeod acknowledged.

He conceded the arguments regarding health and fitness are valid. "It's very important that these small communities have good recreation facilities. It promotes healthy living," he said. "We support it, but I can't determine single-handedly what goes into the community plan. Recreation projects don't rank as high as we'd like them to."

Asked what other infrastructure projects are current priorities in Nahanni Butte, Betsaka replied that the relocation of the fuel plant from a flood zone is essential.