Canadian Heritage Committee on April 14th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Minister, we're over three minutes, so can you wrap up your sentence?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

—and by doing so—you can find more information on that in La Presse and The Globe and Mail this morning—organizations throughout the country will get their cheques months before they used to. There will also will be less political interference.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much. I'd like to thank the minister for coming.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

It's a pleasure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I'd like to thank members for participating by asking questions.

We will now suspend for a couple of minutes while we move into the next hour. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Order, please.

Now we will begin our second hour.

To respond to our question on the estimates, we have before us the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.

Minister, you have 10 minutes to present, and then we will go into rounds of questions and answers. Thank you.

Begin, please.

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I'm pleased to be here today to appear before this committee for the first time.

With me today from the Department of Canadian Heritage are the associate deputy minister, Patrick Borbey, and chief financial officer, Andrew Francis.

I'd also like to congratulate all the members on their appointment, and I look forward to working with you all.

By way of background, I'm a two-time Paralympic swimming medalist, an experienced administrator in Canada's sports system, and a human rights lawyer. My mandate as minister allows me to combine two of my main passions: sport and advocacy in action for Canadians with disabilities.

The committee has asked me to speak about the main estimates for 2016-17. Let me give you some highlights.

For the 2016-17 fiscal year, the overall budget for the sport program is just over $206 million. This includes $12 million in operating expenses and $194 million in grants and contributions. In total, this year's budget represents a decrease of $37.6 million from the last year. This is the result of the completion of funding for the Toronto Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. This is very common in the cycle of sport funding when we host an event in Canada.

As stated in my mandate letter in relation to sport and recreation in our country, I am tasked with working with the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities to support the construction of recreational infrastructure to allow more children access to sport and recreation; working with the Minister of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada to support a national strategy to raise awareness for parents, coaches, and athletes about concussion treatment; working with the Minister of Canadian Heritage to champion the inclusion of sport and recreation in government-wide efforts to promote the celebration of Canada 150, with a particular emphasis on the achievements of athletes and people with disabilities; leading the preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro and other major sport events; and creating greater links between our elite athletes and young Canadians to promote health and achievement amongst young people.

As you can see, I have a very full agenda. I look forward to working with my parliamentary colleagues, my provincial and territory counterparts, our departmental officials, and all the stakeholders across Canada's sport system to meet the needs and expectations of all Canadians in the area of sport and recreation.

As the single largest investor in our country's sport system, the Government of Canada, through Sport Canada, supports all level of sport from recreation all the way up to our high-performance athletes and teams. We have three funding programs: the sport support program, the athlete assistance program, and the hosting program.

The sport support program provides approximately $146 million in funding to 58 national sport organizations, 23 multi-sport organizations, and seven Canadian sport centres and institutes to support programs and services that have a direct impact on athletes and athlete development.

Canada has developed a leading-edge approach to targeted excellence, with the technical expertise provided by Own the Podium. This enables us to focus our resources on programs that give athletes the best chance to win medals at Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The targeted excellence approach has been used for close to a decade. Canada's results at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games have markedly improved during this period, but the quest for medals requires constant re-evaluation.

That is why I think it is timely to examine the impact and effects of the targeted excellence approach across the Canadian sport system. The review I propose will encompass all aspects of the approach, including, but not restricted to, the contributions of Own the Podium.

In addition, we provide funding through our bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to support programs and services aimed at children and young people as well as under-represented groups.

In particular, I'm committed to making sport more accessible to indigenous people and as a means of personal and community development.

The hosting program, with a budget of approximately $20 million per year, aims to enhance the development of sport excellence and the international profile of sport organizations by helping sport organizations host the Canada Games and approximately 90 international sport events a year in Canada.

Let me mention just one of them. I am excited that the Jeux de la francophonie will be hosted by Moncton-Dieppe in 2021.

Events like these are expected to leave significant sport, economic, social and cultural legacies.

The athlete assistance program provides approximately $28 million per year in direct monthly support to about 2,000 of Canada's top high-performance athletes to help relieve some of the financial pressures associated with preparing to participate in international sport, including living, training, and education expenses.

Sport is also important to Canadian communities. In budget 2016, we introduced a number of initiatives for social infrastructure, including support for sport and recreation infrastructure. The amount of $150 million will be made available through regional development agencies to upgrade sport and recreation facilities across the country. I'm also pleased to say that sport and recreation projects are now an eligible category under infrastructure programs like the small communities fund.

We make these investments because we know that sport is important to Canadians as individuals for its physical and mental health benefits. Seventy-two percent of Canadians believe that sport is a key contributor to their quality of life. More than five million Canadians belong to national sports organizations. Data shows that 84% of children between the ages of five and 10 participate in sports, both boys and girls. Unfortunately, participation declines with age, especially amongst girls. By their late teens only 58% of girls are still involved in sports compared to 62% of boys. We need to do a better job in the sport system to keep young people involved in sports. Sport facilities are natural gathering places. Hosting sporting events like the Canada Games builds civic pride and community spirit.

Sport is also a good way to integrate newcomers, people with disabilities and others who might otherwise feel they are on the sidelines.

Sport is part of our cultural identity. Sport builds pride in our nation. Our athletes are wonderful role models, especially for our young people, of the dedication and passion that is required to reach for and attain a goal.

At the same time, our athletes are tremendous examples of the benefits of sport and of living a healthy, active life. Many of our common memories of shining Canadian moments are linked to sport. Donovan Bailey's double gold medals in Atlanta, and Sydney Crosby's “golden goal” in Vancouver—I was there—are just a couple of examples.

In turn, we're looking down the road to Rio to cheer on our athletes as they look to write a new chapter in our country's rich sporting history.

Can our Paralympic swim team dominate the pool the way we did in London?

How many Canadian kids are going to go out in their backyard or local park to emulate the new Olympic hero who inspired them at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

Beyond the Games, it is important that Canada have a strategic approach to engagement in international sport. We will work with international sport bodies to make all of sport open, fair and welcoming and provide all athletes with a level playing field.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to be part of a government that places so much importance on sport and active communities.

As I said earlier, sport is one of my great passions. As an athlete, and now as the Minister responsible for sport in Canada, I can assure that we will continue to invest in today's high-performance athletes, as well as in the next generation.

Not only that, we will work across departments to increase access to sport and recreation and make sports programs safer, more accessible, and more inclusive. I thank you for the opportunity to be here today, and hope that I will have your support to make this vision a reality.

I'd now be happy to answer any questions you might have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much, Minister.

Now, we're going to begin the question session. We'll start with Mr. Sarai for the Liberals.

You have seven minutes, Mr. Sarai.

Minister, that includes the questions and answers.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Minister, thank you for coming. It's an honour to have a minister who has won medals and participated in international competitions such as the Paralympics.

In 2005, prior to the Vancouver Games, Canada set up the Own the Podium program to ensure that our athletes perform the best, and that the best of them is brought out. I had the opportunity of going to many of the 2010 Olympic Games venues and noticed that it was a success.

How about now, 11 years later? Do you, Minister, have confidence that this program is still the best program to support our athletes?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I think, like any good coach would tell you, that we need to be constantly upping our game. We need to be constantly reviewing our approach to any given situation, especially sport. Because of the investment of public dollars in this, I think it's not only prudent but also necessary and incumbent upon us to review our approach, and that's exactly what we're doing.

Own the Podium has had very good success. Our athletes are doing better than they were. We are now taking a more general approach in reviewing what is called the “targeted excellence” approach to high-performance sport, a big component of which is Own the Podium, just to make sure that internationally it's still a best practice, that we're getting the best results for our public investment, and that we're on the right track with this program. We might be. We might end up going down the exact same path we're heading now, but it's prudent to make sure that it's still the right way to go.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Has your department identified areas in this program that can be improved currently?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I think it's a little premature to say that. What we are hearing from sport organizations is that they, too, want to make sure this is still the best way to go.

I wouldn't say there are concerns. As I said at the very beginning, athletes, sport organizations, sport administrators, and coaches are by nature competitive, and they want to make sure we still have that cutting edge that we had 10 years ago, by using this program as the vehicle to achieve medal results at international competitions.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you, Minister.

There are two days that mark the 99th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, an important aspect of the Canadian identity. It marks the important sacrifice made by our military and the many soldiers who bravely fought for our freedom.

In 2017, the Invictus Games are scheduled to be held in Toronto for the 150th anniversary of Canada. These games are intended to honour the sacrifices of soldiers everywhere.

Can the minister give us more details about the Invictus Games to be held in 2017 and the events that surround them, including the two major conferences?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Absolutely. As was said, the Invictus Games are really a celebration of the efforts and the sacrifice that our vets have made for our country. What it allows us to do is that bridge between active participation in the military and active participation in life.

Here is a tiny little history lesson. The Paralympic movement itself was actually born out of an initiative in the U.K. to help wounded war vets rehabilitate, and they recognized very quickly in the early 20th century that a really impactful way of doing this was by providing sport and recreational opportunities to veterans. That snowballed into what is today a very well-respected and high-performance sport movement around the world.

The Invictus Games allow us to bring together athletes from a number of countries—mainly in the Commonwealth, but around the world—to celebrate the accomplishments of these military men and women, and do it through sport.

If you recall, money was allocated to the Invictus Games through budget 2016, but what they are going to build around, in Toronto in 2017, is both a celebration of sport and a celebration of the contributions of military women and men who serve across the world.

The other thing is that they are going to be hosting two conferences around this event. The first one is the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research conference, which will bring together more than a thousand academics and researchers from around the world. This conference is specifically focused on the mental and physical health of our military, veterans, and their families.

The second is the True Patriot Love foundation's international symposium, which brings together foundations, veterans, advocate groups, and primary caregivers to discuss the state of military families today.

It's something I think we should be very proud, as Canadians, to host next year. I think there is a wonderful symmetry between hosting this event in 2017 and it being our 150th birthday.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Minister, as we approach the games in Rio we all know that our athletes are the pride of our country. It takes a lot of sacrifice and effort to be a part of that. We have a duty to support these athletes, who are representing us.

In my riding of Surrey Centre, as well as yours, Delta, which abuts mine, there are many athletes who are aspiring to be in the Olympics but in sports that maybe are not considered the top-tier sports and get less funding, perhaps like field hockey or others.

Can you tell us more about the athlete assistance program?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I'll do it very quickly, Madam Chair. I am mindful of the time.

The AAP, or the athlete assistance program, provides a monthly amount of money that goes directly to around 2,000 of our athletes towards travel, living, and other related personal expenses.

The AAP also has the education expenses component so that our athletes get the opportunity, either during or after their athletic career, to pursue academic studies at the cost of the government, which is fantastic.

The AAP also has special programs that offer additional support, whether it be through caregiving, child care, or other special needs that might arise for athletes.

It is a very important component of our system, and our athletes are very grateful for this assistance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

You have 30 seconds.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

I'll pass over my time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much, Mr. Sarai.

Now we go to Mr. Kitchen for the Conservatives.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you, Minister, for coming.

To start, perhaps you can help me with this. In the Canadian Heritage 2016-17 report on plans and priorities, it suggests that in the main estimates there will be $206 million, but just the other day we were presented with a briefing that suggested that sport really only amounts to $194.2 million.

Can you explain that discrepancy?

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I'll turn that over to my ADM.

[Patrick Borbey, Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage]

The $194 million you mentioned refers to the grants and contributions programs. You have to add another $12 million approximately in operating costs associated with Sport Canada. That gives you your total budget in the main estimates for the coming year.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you. I appreciate that. I forgot about the operating costs.

On that note, when we're talking about the projects in there, we have the hosting program of $20 million, the sport support of basically $146 million, and then the individual athlete program of $30 million. You talked about Own The Podium. Some of the reviews have identified that some of the unintended consequences of that were limited development of athletes.

The next-generation project was created, and in budget 2015 we proposed $20 million over four years, which would be matched by the public, starting in this fiscal year 2016-17. In my discussion at the briefing the other day, I asked a question on that aspect of where the money is, what we're looking at, and where we're going with this.

I'm wondering if you can comment on that.

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

What we know—as you said, calling it a vacuum—is that it's not enough to invest in athletes who are within four years of their peak performance. We need to look beyond those athletes. We need to look at athletes who might be five to eight years away and figure out the best way to support them in their pursuits. The next-generation funding that was announced was exactly targeted to do just that.

What we're looking at now, and we're talking with stakeholders, is that the money is still there. That money is still in.... I don't know the word, I apologize.

[Patrick Borbey]

The fiscal framework.