Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 7th, 2019

[Andrew Campbell]

There's not a direct number that we can give you on that division. Some of those projects are just coming forward now, so we'll see where some of that ends up.

Right now, we distribute the funds based on a floor approach, where everybody gets the same floor from a provincial sports organization. Then we build on that, based on rural and urban population of indigenous people. Obviously, groups that are further afield sometimes come with further costs, but the hope or the idea is that this would be for the entire indigenous population of Canada, not just on reserve or just in the cities.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

That's including urban.

[Andrew Campbell]

Correct.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Okay.

There's a lot of information in your presentation. I've been reading quickly.

Bilateral agreements have been around since 2003. Lots of money has been invested in partnership with provinces. Are there specific objectives in those bilaterals for engaging youth? How many youth and what types of activities?

Tell me a bit about the bilateral agreements.

[Andrew Campbell]

The bilateral agreements do include lots of performance indicators that we have built directly within them.

One of the key ones—sorry that we didn't this bring up—is actually matching. When we are providing funding to provinces and territories, they're in fact matching that and moving that money to the provincial and territorial aboriginal sports organizations. There is a matching element to that.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Does that include the territories?

[Andrew Campbell]

Yes. It's with each province and each territory.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

So each province has to match the amount of resources we put in?

[Andrew Campbell]

Correct.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Even Manitoba?

[Andrew Campbell]

Correct.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

And Manitoba has signed the bilateral?

[Andrew Campbell]

We have an ongoing bilateral agreement with all the provinces and territories, yes.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

It sounds as if you keep pretty good records or results from the bilaterals, based on the information you have.

[Andrew Campbell]

Absolutely.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

What's your secret for that? We're working across other departments and we can't seem to figure out where our money is going.

[Andrew Campbell]

I don't think there is a secret to it. But I think in the area of sport, maybe there's one. It is such an element within society that brings people together. I think that's a place where a lot of organizations and a lot of provincial organizations say it makes a lot of sense to co-invest.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Can you tell me a little bit about infrastructure? Do we fund infrastructure at all—sports infrastructure on or off reserve, or in the cities?

[Andrew Campbell]

Yes, we do, through the infrastructure program and as well through Indigenous Services. But they would be better placed, both Infrastructure Canada and Indigenous Services, to answer your question specifically around the infrastructure, both on and off reserve.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

Can you tell me a little bit about the partnerships with Indigenous Services?

[Andrew Campbell]

We work with them on a daily basis, looking at how we can ensure that investments they are making are also ones that we can help augment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

That actually brings you to the end of your time. Thank you very much.

We are now going to Mr. Yurdiga for five minutes, please.

[David Yurdiga, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, CPC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to the department officials for coming today.

The first thing I want to talk about is the difference between urban and the more isolated rural communities. As we're all aware, we see a lot of industry or local businesses sponsoring teams or various activities, but we don't see that same sort of fairness in the north. Obviously, there are a lot fewer businesses. They don't have the same opportunity.

I was just curious. Is there an adjustment to compensate for more urban settings compared to the rural, isolated communities? Can you just say briefly what the department is doing to compensate?

[Andrew Campbell]

When we look at the formula we use when we're giving money to provincial and territorial governments that then moves on to provincial and territorial aboriginal sports bodies, there is a factor that's built in for the rural nature of that province or territory, because as we know, the costs are higher to do some of those things.

I think the other one that we didn't touch on, but is an important element, is the Arctic Winter Games. The Arctic Winter Games are principally in the north, but in northern Alberta as well. Sport Canada provides a significant amount of the funding toward the Arctic Winter Games and, in fact, has been increasing that funding to ensure that participants can travel to the games.

[David Yurdiga]

I'm just looking at indigenous participation in sports. There's such a wide range. A lot of times, from my perspective, I don't know what that includes. I don't know if you have any documents defining what you consider a sport. A lot of times people will consider certain competitions as a sport, like dance competitions. Is that a sport? I'm not sure. I think from my perspective, I need a definition. What does the department currently do? Who are they funding? We don't want to leave anyone out. Some cultural sports are maybe not considered a sport in your mandate.

Can you just elaborate a little bit on what you consider a sport and what's not?