Industry committee  I think that Roger might be the best person to answer that question. His project encourages athletes to continue with their sport—he pays for their coaches and improves their financial situation.

Industry committee  Those programs are ever-expanding, with all the sponsors. I think it is promoted to all the organizations involved that they do it, because being an athlete is a tough life. To be a professional athlete--or an amateur athlete, I should say--you have to train, and it's a full-time

Industry committee  They aren't offered jobs while they're in this program. The kids in the Jump 2010 program are actually making a little bit of money above and beyond what it costs to train and compete. They're making enough money to maybe go out for dinner once a week. You mentioned college and

Industry committee  Yes, and I can give an example on your first question, as far as winning medals and what this money has done. To take an example, when I started on the Canadian national team, my first year cost me about $35,000 out of my own pocket and, thankfully, my parents' pockets. I was ex

Industry committee  Before raising these issues with members of VANOC, I reflected upon what inputs I could offer as an athlete. They told me that Bill C-47 would not adversely affect athletes, and that really spurred me to come here and speak in favour of the bill. I am confident that the regulati

Industry committee  That was the first question I raised with them—I gave them the example of an auto industry sponsor who wanted to advertise his support for a given Olympic athlete on a car. They replied that as they could not be sure of the words that would be used, they wanted to protect the ter

Industry committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and committee, for letting me speak here today in support of Bill C-47. For the past 12 years, I have been a member of the Canadian free style national team. In that time, I have had the honour to represent Canada in competition at the past three O