Question Period Note: INVICTUS GAMES 2025 / TEAM CANADA

• The Invictus Games 2025 will take place 8-16 February 2025 in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. Approximately 535 ill and injured competitors from over 20 nations will compete in the Games.

• The Invictus Games 2025 will inspire Canadians with the incredible stories of the resilience of Canada’s service members, Veterans and their families. These stories can help us all better understand, respect and celebrate those who served our country.

• The Government of Canada has provided $15M in support of the operations of the Invictus Games 2025.

• The Government of Canada is also providing funding of $1M to Soldier On in support of Team Canada 2025 through the Canadian Armed Forces Wellness and Morale Services.

• Soldier On is responsible for the management of all aspects of Team Canada. VAC is working with partners and Soldier On to ensure that the well-being of Team Canada participants remains a priority and to resolve this issue prior to the Games.

BACKGROUND – Soldier On and Invictus Games

Soldier On and Team Canda:

The Soldier On program, operated by CAF Morale and Welfare Service (CFMWS) Personal Support Program Division (PSP) is an integrated activity under the direction and guidance of the Commander CAF Transition Group (CAF TG).

The Solider On program is delivered under the Non-Public Property (NPP)
accountability framework. The NPP accountability framework facilitates both the use of funds from charitable donations and for reimbursement of operational activities from Public funds.

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) between CAF TG and CFMWS/PSP outlines the framework for management and funding to deliver the Soldier On program.

DND provides core funding for serving CAF members, staff, and administration expenses for Soldier On, however DND does not have policy approval to fund Veteran’s participation in the program.

Veteran participation has been paid primarily by donations and fundraising to the NPP Soldier On Fund. However, growing demand for Veteran participation has strained donated funds and donation revenue trends declined in recent years, compounded by the economic impact of COVID-19.

In 2021-22, the health of the Soldier On Fund, and by extension Veteran participation in their programming and as participants on Team Canada was in jeopardy, just as Canada advanced the bid to host the Invictus Games 2025.

To alleviate these funding pressures and to ensure access for ill and injured Veterans to Soldier On programming equipment, instruction and other special needs in the lead up to and during the Invictus Games, VAC sought authority through the Invictus Games 2025 Treasury Board submission to provide $1 million in temporary incremental funding to Soldier On.

The funds are transferred to Soldier On through an MOU between VAC and CAFMWS in fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25.

In accordance with the MOU, CAFMWS remains the manager of the Solider On Program and is responsible for leading the recruitment, training and management of Team Canada and training and sporting events leading up to the Games.

Invictus Games:

The Invictus Games 2025 will take place 8-16 February 2025 in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. Approximately 535 competitors from ~20 nations will compete in the Games, which will include ten sports across six venues. The Invictus Games 2025 will be the first-ever to introduce a hybrid sport program that will include adaptive winter and indoor sports.

The Invictus Games 2025 will be held on the traditional territories of the Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəyəm), Squamish (Sḵwxwú7mesh), Tsleil-Waututh (səlilwətaɬ) and Lil’wat (Lilwat7úl) Nations who are key partners of the 2025 Games.

The 2025 Games were awarded to Canada in April 2022, following a successful bid that was led by the True Patriot Love Foundation (TPL). The Invictus Games flag was officially handed over to Canada at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany which took place in September 2023.

Financial support for the Invictus Games 2025 is being provided by the Government of Canada (GC) and the Government of British Columbia (GBC) who are each contributing $15M to the total operating budget of $61 million.

GC funding of $15M is being provided through the Commemorative Partnership Program (CPP) at Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), and GBC funding of $15M is being provided by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport (TACS). The funding for each government is provided through contribution agreements with the Vancouver-Whistler Games Corporation (VWGC).

The VWGC was registered by the TPL Foundation in September 2022 as a not-for-profit entity to manage the organization and delivery of the 2025 Games. The remaining operating funding ($22M) for the Invictus Games will be raised by the VWGC through sponsorships, marketing, donations, ticket sales and other revenue sources.

In 2017, the Games were hosted in Canada for the first time, taking place in Toronto, Ontario. The Government of Canada provided $17.5M in funding, with $15M coming from VAC and $2.5M from Heritage Canada. Following the Games, a final report identified a surplus of funds, leading VAC to withhold the final holdback of $750,000 and recover $447,888 from the host organization. This recovery was based on the audited financial statements provided by the organization.

In 2025, surplus funding remaining from the VAC CPP contribution to the Games (as well as any provincial funds) will be contributed to a Games legacy fund managed by True Patriot Love Foundation, in keeping with special authorities granted to VAC by the Treasury Board for this purpose.

WHEN PRESSED:

Q1 – Will the Invictus Games 2025 be delivered on budget?

The Games organizer, the Vancouver Whistler Games Corporation, is solely responsible for the management of the Games budget. Veterans Affairs Canada regularly monitors the Games finances as part of its due diligence and oversight obligations with respect to the contribution agreement in place for funding ($15M).

Q2 – How is the safety and security of all participants being guaranteed?

The safety and security of the Games venues is the responsibility of the Vancouver Whistler Games Corporation and is coordinated in collaboration with the Vancouver Police Department and the RCMP who have jurisdiction in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.

Veterans Affairs Canada leads a federal interdepartmental group on safety and security and on other issues to ensure awareness at the federal level.

The cost for security operations for the Games is not an eligible expense under the VAC contribution agreement.

Q3 – What nations will be participating at the Invictus Games 2025?

Participating Nations in the Invictus Games 2025 were announced by the host organization in October.

Q4 – What funding has VAC provided to Team Canada?

Team Canada will field 56 competitors at the Invictus Games 2025.

Veterans Affairs Canada is providing temporary funding of $1 million in fiscal years 2022-23 through 2024-25 to Soldier On through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Armed Forces Morale and Welfare Services. Soldier On manages and is responsible for Team Canada.

The funds have been provided to support Canadian Veteran participation on Team Canada at the Invictus Games 2025, and for costs related to programming, equipment, instruction and other needs in the lead up to the Games. Veterans Affairs Canada monitors the annual expenditures for Team Canada finances as part of its due diligence and oversight obligations with respect to the contribution agreement in place for funding.

Veteran participation in Soldier On programming is also partly funded through donations and fundraising through the Soldier On Fund.

Q5 – Who is responsible for managing Team Canada?

Soldier On manages and is responsible for Team Canada 2025.

Soldier On manages Team Canada’s participation in international sporting competitions including the Invictus Games. Soldier On is a program delivered through a partnership between Canadian Forces Military Wellness Services (CFMWS) and the CAF Transition Group. This program contributes to the recovery of ill and injured CAF members and Veterans through sport, recreational, and creative activities.

Q6 – Who is responsible for insuring Veterans who participate on Team Canada?

Participation in the Invictus Games is voluntary for both currently serving and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces. While currently serving members continue to receive care through the Canadian Forces Health Services, Veteran participants on Team Canada are only covered through provincial health insurance, private insurance or the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP).

VAC is working with partners and Soldier On to ensure that the well-being of Team Canada participants remains a priority and to resolve this issue prior to the Games.