Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Ottawa will be overhauling its funding support for Canadian athletes in a focused effort set to take place over the next six months. This revelation coincides with the impending release of the final report by a federal commission on the future of Canadian sport.
Speaking to a group of Canadian athletes at Holmenkollen, just north of Oslo, Norway, during the International Ski Federation Nordic World Cup, Carney expressed the government’s intention to engage with organizers and stakeholders to enhance the support structure for athletes. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach that encompasses all levels of sports participation, from grassroots to elite levels.
In an interview with CBC News, Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden affirmed the government’s dedication to harnessing the potential of sports to foster a stronger Canada, emphasizing the importance of supporting athletes at every stage of their careers.
The government’s commitment to reforming sports funding comes as the Future of Sport in Canada Commission prepares to unveil its final report. Launched in 2023 to investigate systemic issues and human rights violations in Canadian sports, the commission’s preliminary report highlighted the critical need for increased funding for Canada’s National Sport Organizations (NSOs). It noted that existing funding levels have not kept up with inflation or the growing demands placed on these organizations.
The preliminary report also underscored the imbalance in funding allocation, with a disproportionate focus on elite athletes at the expense of youth and community sports programs. To address these challenges, the commission recommended urgent increases in core funding for NSOs and national Para sport organizations, streamlining federal funding sources, establishing a long-term funding strategy, and improving the funding application process.
Furthermore, the interim report shed light on the prevalence of abuse within the Canadian sports system, pointing to a culture that silences athletes and fails to prioritize their well-being. It highlighted the disconnect between the government’s emphasis on high-performance outcomes and the broader sport community’s desire for a system that values inclusivity, health, and diversity.
The final report from the commission is scheduled for release on March 24, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to reform and enhance support for Canadian athletes across all levels of competition.