Canada’s athletes, including Olympians, were not included in the federal government’s budget announcement on Tuesday, despite calls from the Canadian Olympic Committee and other sports organizations for increased resources. The budget, presented by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne on behalf of Prime Minister Mark Carney, did not allocate any new funding for sports. The last significant increase in core federal funding for Canada’s 62 National Sport Organizations (NSOs) dates back to 2005. Core funding is crucial for supporting the operations, athletes, coaches, and staff of these sport organizations.
In response, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee issued a joint statement expressing their continued advocacy for increased federal investment in core funding for national sport organizations. They emphasized the importance of addressing the national sport infrastructure deficit to create more active and vibrant communities across the country. The committees requested a $144 million increase on behalf of NSOs to make up for the lack of substantial funding increases over the past two decades.
David Shoemaker, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, expressed disappointment over the lack of funding in the budget. He highlighted the significant financial gap between Canada and other countries like Germany, Italy, and France in terms of sports investment. Shoemaker stressed the urgent need for increased funding to ensure Canadian athletes can compete at their best on the international stage.
Despite the record-breaking success of Canadian athletes at the Paris Olympics in 2025, concerns remain about the future of sports funding in Canada. The COC Athletes’ Commission chair, Philippe Marquis, emphasized the critical role of funding in supporting athletes and NSOs. Many sport organizations are struggling to operate effectively due to insufficient resources and funding cuts.
In the 2024 federal budget, the government increased living and training allowances for athletes under the Athletes Assistance Program. However, athletes and sports officials believe that more substantial and sustained funding is necessary to support the development of Canadian sport. Adam van Koeverden, an Olympic champion and the Secretary of State for Sport, emphasized the importance of increased core funding for NSOs and the need for continued investment in sports at all levels.
Despite financial challenges, there have been some positive developments, such as increased mental health funding for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches. Additionally, recent funding boosts for community initiatives have supported organizations like the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Athletics Canada. The Canadian sports community continues to call for greater government support to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of sports in the country.
