MONTRÉAL, January 14, 2022

Diversity and inclusion in the sport community are two of the Government of Canada’s top priorities.

The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, hosted a virtual roundtable today with representatives from the Aboriginal Sport Circle and its Atlantic chapters (Aboriginal Sport and Recreation New Brunswick, Mi’Kmaw Sport Council of Nova Scotia, PEI Aboriginal Sport Circle and Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle of Newfoundland and Labrador). The goal was to check the status of these organizations as they weather the pandemic and to listen to their concerns. These organizations make a significant contribution to the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities initiative, among others. This initiative focuses on sport as an important tool for social change. Each year, more than $1.2 million is distributed to four Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs) in Atlantic Canada so they can organize sport for social development projects in their communities.

Minister St‑Onge continued her virtual meeting by speaking with organizers of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. These games were supposed to be held in 2020 in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) and Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia, but were also affected by the pandemic. The organizers proved their relisience in rescheduling the games so they can take place in summer 2023. The Government of Canada is investing more than $8.3 million to help in staging and hosting this sporting event.

Finally, Minister St‑Onge concluded her meeting by speaking with Canoe Kayak Canada leadership. She highlighte the resilience and determination shown by the athletes, coaches and Canoe Kayak Canada support staff at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. She also learned more about the challenges the organization faces, in order to help the Government of Canada to support it in the best way possible. Canoe Kayak Canada will receive more than $985,000 for 2021–2022 through the Sport Canada’s Sport Support Program to support athlete and coach development activities. The organization will also receive as much as $2 million to host the Canoe Kayak World Sprint Championships August 3–7, 2022 in Halifax.

This virtual meeting was the first in a series of designed to strengthen connections and collaboration with the Canadian sport community.