Question Period Note: Sport Support Program

The Sport Support Program supports the development of the Canadian sport system and provides funding opportunities for all Canadians, through eligible organizations, to participate in sport.

• The Sport Support Program supports the development of Canadian athletes and coaches and provides funding opportunities for all Canadians to participate in sport.
• The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the sport sector. This is why emergency funding was allocated to national level sport organizations, Aboriginal Sport Bodies, provinces and territories, and community-based sport organizations.
• The Recovery Fund will help organizations ensure their operational viability, and the Community Sport for All initiative seeks to remove barriers and increase sport participation rates for underrepresented populations.

• The Sport Support Program’s total 2021–22 budget is $256.9 million dollars. 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 local, national and international partnerships, with sport and non sport partners. The CSP contributes to excellence; enhanced education and skill development; improved health and wellness; increased civic pride, civic engagement and cohesion; and increased economic development and prosperity.
• The Sport Support Program is delivered through these components:
o The National Sport Organisation (NSO) component funds eligible organizations for programming that supports the development of Canadian athletes and coaches.
o The National Multisport Services Organisations (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 Canadian Sport Centres (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.
• 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 dollar fund, $81 million dollars was allocated to sport organizations as follows:
o Sport Support Program – National organizations ($29.6 million dollars): National level sport organizations (NSOs, MSOs, CSCs and Other Supporting Initiatives) 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 dollars): $37.4 million dollars 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 dollars 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 Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport Sectors will provide $300 million dollars over two years (2021-23) to help support the recovery and reopening of the arts, culture, heritage and sport sectors. Out of this fund, $60 million dollars is available to help existing national level recipient organizations. The call for requests for funding has been launched and the deadline to apply for this funding is December 7, 2021.
• The new Community Sport for All initiative will reduce barriers and increase sport participation, particularly among Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQQIA+ and new Canadians, the communities with the lowest sport participation rates. There will be $80 million dollars over two years, starting in 2022 23, to support organized sport at the community level to help Canadians and communities recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
• The SSP includes $14.3 million dollars over five years, beginning in 2021 22, and $2.9 million dollars ongoing, to ensure that Indigenous women and girls have access to meaningful sports activities through the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities program.

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