Question Period Note: Sport Support Program

The Sport Support Program supports the provision of opportunities for all Canadians to participate in sport and the development of the Canadian sport system.

• The Sport Support Program supports the development of Canadian athletes and coaches and the provision of opportunities for all Canadians to participate in sport. Funding is provided to eligible organizations and provincial and territorial governments for programming that fosters a national culture of safe, welcoming and inclusive sport.
• $29.6 million of COVID-19 Emergency Support Funding was disbursed to 83 national level sport organizations based on identified needs. All eligible organizations that applied for funding received support.
• $51.4 million was also allocated through the existing Federal-Provincial/Territorial Bilateral Agreements to all 13 provinces and territories. Of this amount, $37.4 million was allocated to help up to 700 Sport Organizations and Aboriginal Sport Bodies across Canada; and $14 million was targeted to help regional and community sport organizations.

• The COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations has been implemented to complement economic measures already announced by the Government of Canada. This fund is helping organizations ensure that they can continue contributing to their sector in the future. Out of the $500 million fund, $81 million was allocated to sport organizations as follows:
o Sport Support Program – National organizations ($29.6 million): National level sport organizations (National Sport Organizations (NSOs), Multisport Services Organizations (MSOs), Canadian Sport Centres (CSCs) and Other Supporting Initiatives (OSIs) already receiving funding were disbursed up to 25 percent of the amount of funding received in the most recent funding cycle (reference level; enhanced excellence; next generation) based on identified needs. The Aboriginal Sport Circle also received emergency funding under the Sport Support Program.
o Sport Support Program - Bilateral agreements with the provinces and territories: ($51.4 million): $37.4 million was allocated to all 13 provinces and territories based on the number of Provincial-Territorial Sport Organizations supported by each jurisdiction, including Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies; and $14 million was targeted to support regional and community sport organizations allocated with a base amount of $250,000 to each jurisdiction and the remaining funds distributed based on each jurisdiction’s share of the total Canadian population as per most recent Statistics Canada’s census (2016).
• The Sport Support Program’s 2021–22 budget is $179.7 million. It supports the provision of opportunities for all Canadians to participate in sport and the development of the Canadian sport system. Funding is provided to eligible organizations for programming that is aligned with the goals of the Canadian Sport Policy (CSP).
• The CSP sets direction for the period of 2012 to 2022 for all governments, institutions and organizations that are committed to realizing the positive impacts of sport on individuals, communities and society. The CSP encourages the development of new partnerships with location and national, domestic and international, sport and non-sport partners. The CSP contributes to excellence; enhanced education and skill development; improved health and wellness; increased civic pride, engagement and cohesion; and increased economic development and prosperity.
• The Sport Support Program is delivered through these components:
o The NSO component funds eligible organizations for programming that supports the development of Canadian athletes and coaches.
o The National MSO component funds eligible organizations for programs and services offered to the national sport community to advance the development of sport in Canada.
o The CSC component funds eligible organizations for programming that supports the development of Canadian athletes and coaches.
o The Innovation Initiative funds eligible organizations for the testing of innovative quality sport approaches in order to develop evidence-based solutions to improve sport participation.
o The Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities component funds eligible organizations to deliver sport for social development projects for Indigenous communities in Canada.
o The Federal-Provincial/Territorial Bilateral Agreements on sport participation to support increased participation in sport for children and youth as well as under-represented groups.

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