Question Period Note: Indigenous Youth and Sport

A renewed fund of $20 million over five years has been established to support Indigenous youth and sport initiatives. 

Through Budget 2022, the Government of Canada is providing $20 million over five years to support Indigenous youth and sport initiatives.

This funding will also continue to help the Aboriginal Sport Circle strengthen its sport leadership and support the provinces and territories in the delivery of culturally relevant Indigenous sport programming.

The funding provides ongoing support for the hosting of the North American Indigenous Games and Indigenous sport data and research.

The needs and cultural priorities addressed by the investment are drawn from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action #88 and #90.

Through Budget 2017, the Government of Canada invested $18.9 million over five years, starting in 2017–18, and ongoing funding of $5.5 million every four years thereafter. This investment is in the following areas:  

Indigenous sport leadership, $3.9 million, sunset in
2021–22; 

culturally relevant sport programming, $9 million, sunset in 2021–22; 

the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), $3.5 million every four years ongoing; and, 

Sport Canada's data and research, $0.5 million every year ongoing. 

Investments are allocated to:  

The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) to assume a greater leadership role as the national voice for Indigenous sport in Canada; 

Provincial and territorial governments, through bilateral agreements, to increase the capacity of Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies, increase the offering of culturally relevant sport programming, and support the NAIG team preparation and travel; 

National Sport Organizations and Multisport Service Organizations to ensure long-term Indigenous athlete development and growth; and, 

the hosting of the NAIG in Canada on a four-year cycle. 

Budget 2022 announced $20 million in renewed funding over five years, from 2022–23 to 2026–27, to continue support in the following areas: 

$10 million for Indigenous sport leadership; and, 

$10 million for culturally relevant sport programming. 

Results of this investment to date are: 

Strengthened the capacity of the ASC enabling it to provide expertise and guidance to stakeholders on the Aboriginal Long-Term Participant Development Pathway, the guide for developing sport and physical activity among Indigenous peoples; 

Increased the number of Indigenous people involved in sport programming; and,

Provided competitive opportunities for Indigenous youth through funding for the NAIG.  

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