OTTAWA, April 5, 2004 -- The Honourable Stan Keyes, Minister of State (Sport), today announced a series of roundtable discussions to take place across the country with several Cabinet Ministers and key sport stakeholders from April 6 to 16, 2004. These discussions comprise the next steps in developing a concrete action plan for future targeted investments in high performance sport."Canada's sport community has done an excellent job over the last several years building toward the vision outlined in the Canadian Sport Policy," said Minister Keyes. "Our goal, over the next several weeks, is to establish a set of priorities that will allow Canada to continue developing our high performance sport system so that together we will shine at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010 and beyond."These roundtables provide the opportunity to wrap up all the work that has been done by the sport community through the Canadian Sport Policy and the federal, provincial, territorial process, as well as discussions Minister Keyes had begun across the country to establish a concrete plan on future funding for high performance sport. Following Budget 2004, Minister Keyes announced the national roundtables and confirmed an investment of $30 million into the Canadian sport system, which increased the overall federal investment in sport to $100 million for 2004-05. Minister Keyes will kick off the roundtables in Regina on April 6, 2004. The Government of Canada has developed a discussion paper that will serve as a starting point for dialogue. In each location, invited stakeholders will be asked to present their priorities for high performance, focusing on the following three questions:1. What does an athlete need to succeed?2. What is the best way to target new funding for high performance sport to ensure the success of Canada's athletes on the international stage?3. What can all funding partners do to achieve Canada's high performance goals?The discussions will be facilitated by a number of Cabinet Ministers, including Minister of State (Sport) Stan Keyes, Environment Minister David Anderson, Canadian Heritage Minister Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, and Minister of State (Public Health) Carolyn Bennett. The Government of Canada has consulted with stakeholders, and provincial and territorial governments to identify the participants who will attend the roundtables.Stakeholders not able to participate in the roundtables can provide feedback on the discussion paper until April 23, 2004, by sending their submissions to sportcanada@pch.gc.ca . The paper is available at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/sportcanadaThe roundtables will be held in the following locations: April 6 Regina, SK 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Minister Keyes April 7Hamilton, ON 9 a.m. -11a.m. Minister KeyesApril 8Victoria, BC 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Minister AndersonApril 14Toronto, ON 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Minister of State BennettSt. John's, NL 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Minister KeyesQuébec, QC 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Minister Chalifour ScherrerApril 15Halifax, NS 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Minister KeyesApril 16 Vancouver, BC 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Minister AndersonSherbrooke, QC 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Minister Chalifour Scherrer Charlottetown, PEI 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Minister Keyes "The Government of Canada is serious about making sure that all of our athletes have the opportunity to compete at the highest level," added Minister Keyes. "Through the involvement of several of my Cabinet Colleagues, the Government of Canada is demonstrating this Government's high level of commitment to the success of this process."Overall, the Government of Canada provides $100 million in annual funding to support participation and excellence in sport from the playground to the podium. To learn more about the various sport-related programs offered by the Government of Canada, please visit the Canadian Heritage Web site at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/sportcanadaInformation: Caroline JacquesPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of State (Sport)(819) 994-9909
