This summer, Canadians will come together to cheer on Team Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. Canada's athletes will inspire us to believe in the power and possibility of sport. They are invested in making Canada proud, and the Government of Canada is invested in setting athletes up to do their best.
Today, during a visit to the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta in Calgary, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, announced over $55 million over the next two years in sport. Minister Qualtrough was joined by the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board, and the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. These investments will go directly toward supporting athletes, from the playground to the podium.
A $35-million investment will be made over five years in the Athlete Assistance Program, with $7 million per year committed on an ongoing basis thereafter. This program directly supports carded athletes who train and compete to represent Canada. This means an increased monthly living and training allowance for already carded athletes and will also allow for support to be extended to more athletes.[KB1] As it has for many Canadians, the cost of living has put stress on athletes to make ends meet. The Government of Canada is stepping up to meet athletes where they're at and empowering them to focus on what matters-pursuing their best.
Opportunities for athletes to do their best are possible when their sport environments make them feel empowered and welcomed. To support this, the Government of Canada is investing in making sport safer and more inclusive for everyone. Over the next two years, $16 million will be invested in the Sport Support Program and $15 million in the Community Sport for All initiative.
Through these programs, funding will help break down barriers, making sport more available and more affordable in more communities across the country. It will also go toward initiatives to improve safe sport and advance athlete well-being. All Canadians deserve to see a future for themselves in sport.
