Canadian Olympic Committee calls for increased federal funding
OTTAWA – Canadian Olympians and Paralympians were honored in Ottawa on Wednesday, with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) using the occasion to advocate for increased federal funding for sport organizations.
The event, held across from the West Block of Parliament, saw around 200 athletes welcomed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, cabinet ministers, senators, and MPs from various parties. The athletes were later invited to the House of Commons, where MPs sang O Canada in unison.
During her speech, COC president Tricia Smith highlighted the challenges facing Canada’s sport organizations due to insufficient funding. Smith emphasized the need for updated support for the national sports system, which provides Canadians with coaches, training camps, and competition opportunities that are currently being cut due to lack of funding.
The COC recently submitted a budget request to the federal government, seeking $144 million, up from the $104 million requested earlier this year. CEO David Shoemaker stressed the importance of increasing core funding for sport organizations, which have not seen an increase since 2005, leading to a 50% erosion in funding due to inflation.
Despite the federal government’s commitment of $55 million for athletes’ monthly payments and safe sport initiatives, the COC’s request for $104 million was not fully met. This shortfall has forced sport organizations to cut back on programs, competitions, and training camps, impacting the development of future athletes.
Andrew Price, CEO of Gymnastics Canada, highlighted the challenges faced by sport organizations in maintaining programs and services with limited funding. He expressed concern that grassroots programs have been affected, with longer-term sustainable initiatives being defunded to prioritize urgent needs.
Sport Minister Carla Qualtrough, a former Paralympic bronze medallist, reiterated her commitment to advocating for increased funding for sport. She emphasized the value of investing in sport for the health of citizens and the cost savings to the healthcare system.
As Canadian sport organizations continue to struggle with funding challenges, the COC and government officials are working towards securing additional support to ensure the long-term sustainability of the national sports system.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on December 4, 2024.
