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Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT SPORT CANADA

FUNDING PROGRAMS

ATHLETE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (AAP)

SPORT SUPPORT PROGRAM (SSP)

HOSTING PROGRAM

SPECIAL INITIATIVES

For other questions, please contact us:

Sport Canada
16th Floor, 15 Eddy
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0M5

Toll free. 1 (866) 811-0055
Fax. (819) 956-8006

sportcanada@pch.gc.ca

ABOUT SPORT CANADA

Q1. Does Sport Canada have any role in technical decisions relating to the rules of a particular sport?
A. Sport Canada provides financial support to National Sport Organizations (NSOs) and Multisport Service Organizations (MSOs) under the terms of the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF). However, Sport Canada does not make technical decisions for any sport. Each NSO has a wealth of technical expertise within its ranks allowing them to effectively deal with issues that are not within the Government of Canada’s expertise or jurisdiction.

Q2. Does Sport Canada assist in resolving disputes within sport?
A. Assistance in resolving disputes is available through the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. They can be reached toll-free at 1-866-733-7767. Background information on the Centre is available at here.

Q3. I am interested in finding employment with Sport Canada. What should I do?
A. All of Sport Canada’s external recruitment is conducted through the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC). The PSC also operates an automated information line at 613-996-8436.

Q4. Does Sport Canada have a role in the Children Fitness Tax Credit?
A. All inquiries on the Children Fitness Tax Credit should be directed to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Q5. What is the government commitment to anti-doping and ethics in sport?
A. The federal government’s commitment to anti-doping and ethics in sport is reflected in the Physical Activity and Sport Act and the Canadian Sport Policy.

Anti-doping

  • The commitment to anti-doping is further evidenced in the Canadian Policy Against Doping in Sport (2004) which was developed through a collaborative process involving the federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions and was endorsed by the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Sport, Recreation and Fitness in April 2004. The policy states that the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), with the cooperation and support of sport organizations and governments, shall maintain and carry out the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. This program is mandated to be consistent with the World Anti-Doping Program and other international best practices. Sport Canada is the major financial contributor to the CCES.

Ethics

In 2001, federal, provincial and territorial sport Ministers agreed to place new emphasis on reinforcing the ethical foundation of sport in Canada. That renewed commitment together with the direction to develop and implement a Canadian Strategy for Ethical Conduct in Sport was made in the 2001 London Declaration.

A Policy Framework (May 2002) and an Action Plan (2003) were then developed. The Canadian Strategy for Ethical Conduct in Sport has been re-branded as the True Sport Strategy.  The True Sport Secretariat for the Canadian Strategy for Ethical Conduct in Sport (True Sport Movement) was created to coordinate and implement the activities under the Strategy. The True Sport Secretariat is housed within the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and reports to a national Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee, co-chair by CCES and the federal government (Sport Canada) has members representing provincial and territorial governments.

Q6. How does Sport Canada ensure NSOs and MSOs adopt the Canada Anti-Doping Program?
A. Endorsement of the Canadian Policy Against Doping in Sport and adoption of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (as applicable) is a condition of eligibility for all funded National Sport Organizations (NSOs) and Multisport Service Organizations (MSOs). Project Stream recipients are equally responsible for ensuring that they subscribe to the principles and practices of anti-doping in sport.

Q7. What happens to an individual’s funding when they break the anti-doping rules?
A. Any individual who has committed and been sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to or recognized under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program or its predecessors resulting in a two-year period of sport ineligibility or greater and, where applicable, has not been reinstated, is permanently ineligible to receive any direct financial support provided by the Government of Canada, through Sport Canada. Any individual who has committed and been sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to or recognized under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program resulting in a period of sport ineligibility of less than two years is ineligible to receive any direct financial support provided by the Government of Canada for a corresponding period. In addition to ineligibility for direct funding, sanctions also extend to indirect funding eligibility. For more information, please refer to Sport Canada's Anti-Doping Sanctions directive.

Q8. What is the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport?
A. Sport Canada is the major financial contributor to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization that is helping build a fair and ethical sport system by promoting respect for sport, respect for others, drug-free sport, equity, fair play, safety and non-violence. The mission of the CCES is to foster ethical sport for all Canadians. The CCES achieves this mission through research, promotion and education relevant to ethics in sport, including fair play and drug-free sport. As well, the CCES administers Canada's domestic anti-doping program, while at the same time exercising international leadership in advancing a doping-free, fair and ethical environment for sport worldwide.

For more information on anti-doping in sport, visit:

FUNDING PROGRAMS

Q9. Is there funding available from Sport Canada for the construction of sport and recreational facilities?
A. Sport Canada’s mandate does not, at this time, include any provisions to assist individuals, clubs, groups or municipalities with their capital projects, including the construction of sport and recreational facilities, or to help defray the costs of purchasing sporting or recreational equipment. Funding, as it relates to facilities, is restricted to projects where the Canada Games or International Major Multi-Sport Games, such as the Commonwealth Games, will be hosted. Infrastructure Canada, through its Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund are possible sources of federal funding for such projects.

ATHLETE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Q10. How can athletes access funding under the Athlete Assistance Program?
A. All nominations for assistance on behalf of athletes under Sport Canada's Athlete Assistance Program must be submitted on an annual basis to Sport Canada by the appropriate National Sport Organization. Sport Canada does not accept applications directly from athletes. For more information on eligibility requirements and the nomination process, see the AAP Policies, Procedures and Guidelines (2005).

Q11. How is annual funding renewed under the Athlete Assistance Program?
A. Sport Canada approves funding for athletes under the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) on an annual basis, based on nominations from National Sport Organizations (NSOs). An athlete who was approved for funding in a given year can be renewed for the subsequent year if that athlete is nominated by the NSO and the nomination is approved by Sport Canada. In order to be nominated and approved, athletes must meet the requirements outlined by the NSO’s Criteria and Process for Nomination. For more information, see AAP Policies, Procedures and Guidelines and the appropriate National Sport Organization.

Q12. Does AAP financial support change or increase depending on the performance of the athlete or the team?
A. The amount of financial support does not change/increase from year-to-year depending upon performance. There are two levels of support - senior at $1500/month and development at $900/month.

Q13. How can I find out who are the carded athletes in a particular sport?
A. You can consult the list of Carded Athletes by Sport.

SPORT SUPPORT PROGRAM

Q14. How can my team or organization obtain Sport Canada funding?
A. Sport Canada provides funding to national organizations that are deemed eligible. The vehicle used to determine eligibility is the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF). The SFAF is the process used to determine which incorporated not-for-profit organizations are eligible for Sport Support Program (SSP) funding, in what areas, at what level and under what circumstances. It is used to assess National Sport Organizations (NSOs) and Multisport Service Organizations (MSO) in Canada

Q15. How can an organization become recognized by Sport Canada as a National Sport Organization?
A. Sport Canada pursues its mission through a combination of national sport policies and funding programs directed primarily to eligible National Sport Organizations (NSOs). Consequently, there is no recognition process or a status of a “recognized NSO.” Rather, there is a process to determine what organizations may be eligible for federal funding. Eligibility is limited to NSOs and MSOs that have met the full requirements of the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF).

Q16. How can organizations become eligible for Sport Canada funding?
A. Organizations wishing to establish their eligibility may apply at any time to be assessed. The assessment is a two-stage process that begins with the applicant completing the Eligibility Criteria Questionnaire. Organizations that meet the requirements will be eligible to continue on to the next step, which involves the completion of a comprehensive Assessment Questionnaire. The results of the evaluation of the questionnaire will determine the areas of eligible activity of an organization to receive funding as well as the relative level of funding that may be provided. Full details are available in the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF).

HOSTING PROGRAM

Q17. How do businesses and other organizations bid on tenders issued in support of major games and other projects?
A. Requests for Proposals are issued through MERX, the Government of Canada Electronic Tendering Service at www.merx.com.

Q18.  Is the Government of Canada responsible for the organization of major sport events in Canada?
A. The Government of Canada (GOC) is not responsible for the organization of major sport events in Canada.  The GOC provides financial support to major sport events that advance national policy objectives; accrue significant net sport economic, social and cultural benefits; and ensure significant legacies.

Q19. Who decides to award an event to a community?
A. Recognized National Sport Organizations (NSO) or Multisport Service Organizations (MSO) select the communities that will host events.

Q20. Can any group apply to the Hosting Program?
A. Only recognized National Sport Organizations (NSOs) or Multisport Service Organizations (MSOs) can apply to the Hosting Program.  If a community or provincial association is interested in hosting an international sporting event, they must communicate directly with their respective NSO or MSO in order to receive their endorsement and in order to submit an application.

Q21. Is there financing for local and regional events?
A. Sport Canada’s Hosting Program only supports international sport events that have been endorsed by a recognized National Sport Organization (NSO) or Multisport Service Organization (MSO) and the Canada Games.

Q22. Can any community apply to obtain funding to host Canada Games?
A. Only the community meeting the bidding requirements of the Canada Games Council and designated by the host province/territory is eligible for funding.

 

SPECIAL INITIATIVES

Q23. How can researchers apply for funding under the Sport Canada Research Initiative?
A. The Sport Canada Research Initiative includes four streams of research activity that: 1) develop surveys and statistics; 2) explore the socio-economic benefits and impacts of sport (impact analysis research); 3) contribute to an understanding of the barriers to, and the benefits of, sport participation (council-based research); and 4) address knowledge gaps, priority areas and topical issues (targeted research).

Sport Canada will periodically issue a Request for Proposals (RFPs) for surveys and statistics, impact analysis research and targeted research. These RFPs are issued through Merx at www.merx.com.

Regarding Council-based research, Sport Canada currently invites researchers to apply for funding via our two joint initiatives with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). More information and application details for Council-based research

Q24. Where can I find out about the Long-Term Athlete Development model for my particular sport?
A. There is a standard LTAD model that forms the basis for sport-specific models developed by National Sport Organizations. The standard model has also been supplemented with additional information for athletes with a disability. More information on the standard LTAD model as well as its application for athletes with a disability is available on this website. For more information on sport-specific models, contact the appropriate National Sport Organization.

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Date Modified: 2009-09-21

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