Government of Canada announces financial support for Skate Canada
Investments will help the organization advance the sport of figure skating in Canada and improve safe sport practices
GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 28, 2022 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadians from the playground to the podium and helping the sport community get Canadians active, inspire young people and bring us together in the spirit of healthy competition.
Today, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announced $2,426,500 in funding for Skate Canada for 2022–23, including $50,500 devoted to safety in sport.
The investment will provide the organization with the financial means to conduct its daily operations, promote the sport of figure skating among all Canadians, and support high-performance athletes competing at the national and international levels. The funding includes $150,000 to host the 2022 Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ontario, from October 28 to 30.
The investment in safety in sport is part of the government's ongoing work with sport organizations to ensure a safe sport environment for athletes across Canada. The annual funding will help national sport organizations meet important governance, accountability and safe sport standards, such as:
- adhering to the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) as their independent third-party mechanism to address allegations of maltreatment;
- offering mandatory training to athletes, coaches and support staff to prevent and address maltreatment; and
- integrating the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) into their organizational policies and procedures.
As the single largest investor in Canada's sport system, the Government of Canada is proud of the investments it makes to support Canadian athletes, the national and multisport organizations that support them, and the hosting of international sport events.
"As the Minister of Sport, I am proud to support our national sport organizations in their efforts to better serve their athletes and participants and make their sport safer. Our funding of more than $2.4 million gives Skate Canada tools to offer safer training environments for all, as well as better means to support high-performing athletes and conduct daily operations. All Canadians benefit when our athletes have more opportunities to compete at a world-class level and showcase their skills on the world stage. The 2022 Skate Canada International will do just that and inspire young people to strive for greatness and stay active."
—The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
"Our government is committed to ensuring athletes across Canada have access to safe training environments and opportunities to excel. I am proud that Mississauga is hosting the 2022 Canada Skate International event."
—Iqwinder Gaheer, Member of Parliament (Mississauga–Malton)
"We would like to thank the Government of Canada for their continued support and collaboration. Their financial investment is critical to the overall success of Skate Canada International and has helped provide opportunities for Canadian skaters to compete on home soil."
—Debra Armstrong, CEO of Skate Canada
Skate Canada is the official governing organization for the sport of figure skating in Canada. The organization supports over 170,000 registrants.
Funding to national sport organizations mostly comes from Sport Canada's Sport Support Program. A portion of this year's investment came from the Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport Sectors, which leveraged existing programs to provide $300 million over two years to organizations recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. The funding to host the 2022 Skate Canada International was made through Sport Canada's Hosting program.
To be eligible for funding, all sport organizations must have a policy on harassment, abuse and discrimination; offer mandatory training on those issues; and provide access to an independent third-party to receive and manage complaints. It will gradually become mandatory for federally funded organizations to use the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner as their independent third-party mechanism.
Effective April 1, 2023, Sport Canada will change contribution agreements with organizations that meet the new eligibility requirements of the Sport Funding Framework. The goal is to ensure that sport organizations receiving federal funding meet specific governance, accountability and safe sport standards.
The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner is responsible for administering the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport using trauma-informed processes that are compassionate, efficient and provide fairness, respect and equity to all parties involved.
Government of Canada provides update and announces action on safe sport
Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner: current program signatories
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
(media only), please contact: Ariane Joazard-Bélizaire, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 1-819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]
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