Canada’s athletes, including Olympians, were neglected in the recent federal government budget announcement. Despite requests for more resources from the Canadian Olympic Committee and national sport organizations, no new funding was allocated for sports in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget. The lack of increase in core federal funding for Canada’s 62 federally funded National Sport Organizations (NSOs) since 2005 has raised concerns as core funding is essential for the operations, athletes, coaches, and support staff of sport organizations.
In response, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee issued a joint statement advocating for increased federal investment in core funding for NSOs to enhance the Canadian sport system. They emphasized the importance of addressing the national sport infrastructure deficit to create more active and vibrant communities. The committees highlighted the significant role of sport in the lives of Canadians, from grassroots participation to high-performance representation on the global stage.
The COC and CPC urged for a $144 million increase in funding for NSOs to compensate for the lack of substantial boosts in the past two decades. Concerns were raised by David Shoemaker, CEO of the COC, about Canada falling behind competitor nations like Germany, Italy, and France in sports funding. The COC and CPC stressed the need for increased federal investment to support athletes in reaching their full potential and to ensure the accessibility of sport for future generations.
Despite setting records in the previous Summer Olympics, Canadian athletes are facing challenges due to insufficient funding. Funding issues have led to operational struggles for many sport organizations, impacting athlete support and resources. The recent federal budget included a modest increase in living and training allowances under the Athletes Assistance Program, but concerns remain about the adequacy of funding for athletes to excel in upcoming international competitions.
Government officials and sport leaders, including Adam van Koeverden, have emphasized the necessity of increased core funding for NSOs and the indexing of athlete support with inflation. The call for a larger investment in sport from various sectors and government levels underscores the importance of sustainable funding for the development and success of Canadian athletes across different sports disciplines.
Efforts to support Canadian sport, such as fundraising campaigns by organizations like Rugby Canada, demonstrate the ongoing challenges in securing sufficient funding for sports programs. Despite funding constraints, positive developments include increased mental health services funding for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches, as well as additional support for community initiatives to bolster sport participation and development in Canada.