Good morning.
Thank you for inviting me to this important meeting. I will just say a few words, if I may.
To begin with, I would like to correct some information that appeared in the newspapers. Sport Canada, as such, is a branch within the International and Intergovernmental Affairs and Sport sector of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The employees in that branch report to me. So I am accompanied this morning by Tom Scrimger, Director General of the Sport Canada branch.
Sport Canada's main role is to support high-level sports excellence and the development of the sporting system as a way to strengthen the unique contribution that sports bring to our identity, culture and society as Canadians.
The Canadian government supports the Canadian sports policy, which has been adopted by the federal, provincial and territorial governments. Through a set of agreements, we contribute to independent non-governmental organizations such as national sports associations, including Hockey Canada.
The contribution agreement with Sport Canada stipulates the activities for which sports organizations receive support and the conditions that apply. This funding enables organizations to promote the development of athletes, coaches and referees, as well as the development of sport within Canada and at the international level. National sports organizations administer the development of their sport.
I will be pleased to answer any questions you have, including questions about our approach to official languages and other aspects. That is the introduction that I wanted to give you this morning.