Following Canadian Women Athletes to Vancouver

The Sport Matters Group
March 4th, 2010

A Budget for a Golden Year

Today's budget put a golden financial glow on a memorable week for sport in Canada. The budget has demonstrated a level of support previously unseen by our federal government. Kudos to the many sport leaders and citizens - and our exceptional athletes and coaches - who collaborated in bringing these valuable sport proposals to government and for demonstrating what sport can do when we work together.

In sum, $31m have been allocated annually and on an on-going basis to a range of sport and physical activity priorities:

* $5m to renew the La Releve initiative at Sport Canada that was slated to sunset on March 31st of this year

* $3m dedicated to ParticipACTION to promote healthy lifestyles through physical activity and fitness

* $1m towards Special Olympics Canada in support of sport for people with an intellectual disability

* $17m for programs that support the training and competition of winter and summer elite athletes (as in, the $11m towards Own the Podium winter and to Team Sport initiatives)

* $5m to the Canadian Paralympic Committee to build off the coming Games in Vancouver in the years ahead

In turn, Minister Lunn will announce details on how this effort will also reach out to and target private sector investments and partnerships, building on the success of Own the Podium.

There are also indications in the budget:

* that funds still exist in the Recreation Infrastructure Canada program, now entering its second year

* that the disbursement quote for charities, foundations, and RCAAAs has been eliminated

* the research granting councils (i.e. SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC etc) have seen modest additional funds , totalling $32m

* $45m towards making facilities more accessible to people with a disability

* Rick Hansen's Foundation also has $9m earmarked for the coming two years

* and some top ups to a number of youth programs (internships for youth employment and skills training - i.e. coaching - for youth at risk)

Join our detailed briefing tomorrow at 2pm EST for more details - connect with Liz here for more information - 613.231.7472, x 246.

All the best, and congratulations Canada.

Ian Bird