Question Period Note: Sport - Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

In December 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its Final Report, which included five Calls to Action that pertain directly to sport and other actions that address specific social development outcomes to which sport can contribute.

• No relationship is more important to our Government than the one with Indigenous Peoples.
• Budget 2017 provided new funding in support of the Aboriginal Sport Circle to support Indigenous sport leadership and assist the provinces and territories in the delivery of culturally relevant Indigenous sport programming, as well as provide stable, ongoing funding for the North American Indigenous Games.
• Budget 2018 announced investments to expand the use of sport for social development in more than 300 Indigenous communities for the purpose of achieving outcomes in the areas of health, education, at-risk behaviour, and/or employability.

• There are five Calls to Action pertaining to sport contained in the TRC Final Report.
• These sport-related Calls to Action are:
o 87: tell the national story of Aboriginal athletes in history;
o 88: government support of long term Aboriginal athlete development and funding of the North American Indigenous Games;
o 89: ensure all federal sport policies and legislation are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples;
o 90: provide access and support for Aboriginal athletes, coaches and sport officials throughout the Canadian sport system; and
o 91: ensure Indigenous peoples are engaged and territorial protocols are respected at major international sport events hosted in Canada and abroad.
• Budget 2017 announced investments of $18.9 million over five years, starting in 2017-2018, and ongoing funding of $5.5 million every four years thereafter to support Indigenous youth and sport initiatives.
• The four-point approach of the Indigenous Youth and Sport investment captures the essence of the Calls to Action and is designed to address systemic barriers that prevent Indigenous children and youth from participating in sport by investing in the following areas 1) Indigenous Sport Leadership 2) Culturally Relevant Sport Programming 3) The North American Indigenous Games, and 4) Data and Research.
• Budget 2018 announced investments of $47.5 million over five years, and $9.5 million per year ongoing, to expand the use of sport for social development in more than 300 Indigenous communities
o The Budget 2018 announcement does not relate directly to the Calls to Action 87-91 on Sport, but rather Calls to Action that speak to social development, notably:
o 7: eliminate educational and employment gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians;
o 19: identify and close the gaps in health outcomes, between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities; and
o 38: eliminate the overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in custody.
• The announcement resulted in the May 31, 2019, launch of the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities component of the Sport Support Program, delivered by the Department of Canadian Heritage (Sport Canada branch).
• The objectives of the initiative address four social outcomes:
o Improved Health;
o Improved Education;
o Reduction of at-risk behaviour; and
o Improved Employability.

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