Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Sport
OTTAWA, April 26, 2001 -- Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Sport met today on the eve of the National Sport Summit in Ottawa to discuss the development of a proposed Canadian Sport Policy and mechanisms for fostering closer collaboration. They met at the invitation of the federal Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) Denis Coderre.Ministers used the occasion of the meeting to strongly reinforce the important role of sport in all parts of the country and to affirm a commitment by governments (both individually and collectively) to play a leadership role in sport in partnership with the sport community.
After a preliminary analysis of the working document entitled Toward a Canadian Sport Policy, Ministers agreed to refine the discussion paper. This will allow them to make progress towards a Canadian Sport Policy by developing consensus on its elements. The main themes identified in the document are Excellence, Participation, and Building Capacity. Ministers agreed to focus best efforts in these areas and asked their officials to continue to work closely together in the coming months. They also agreed to further discuss the means through which they can renew and strengthen federal, provincial, and territorial collaboration in the area of sport.
They set themselves a deadline of a year to finalize the Canadian Sport Policy and implementation framework for collaborative action in sport which will be considered at a federal, provincial and territorial Ministers meeting. They also announced their commitment to continue to consult the sport communities in their respective areas.
The Ministers will also discuss the progress of the Canadian Sport Policy and the possibilities for collaboration at their next regularly scheduled meeting which will take place in London, Ontario on August 10, 2001 just before the Canada Summer Games. They also suggested that from now on the FPT Ministers meetings should be held annually rather than every two years.
For its part, Quebec expressed important concerns that sport and athletes should not be used for political ends and has asked that in order to be part of the process, the required modifications would have to be made to the final Canadian Sport Policy. All jurisdictions agreed to work on this basis.
Information:
Akim Thibouthot
Press Secretary
Office of the Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)
(819) 994-9909
[ Media Room ]
