Government of Canada Implements the Final Recommendation of Official Languages in the Canadian Sport System Study

News Release

OTTAWA, May 5, 2006 -- President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister for Sport Michael Chong announced today the release of the study, Linguistic Barriers to Access to High-Performance Sport. The study was undertaken on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Official Languages and examined whether linguistic barriers still exist within the Canadian sport system.
"The Government of Canada is committed to promoting linguistic duality in the Canadian sport system. The ongoing commitment with the Government's partner groups to promote linguistic duality means that athletes have seen improved access to training and services in both official languages," said Minister Chong. "Since 2000, Sport Canada has made significant progress in implementing the recommendations of the Commissioner of Official Languages. The results of this study will allow us to focus our efforts on areas that require further improvements for the benefit of all Canadian athletes."
The study found that financial and geographic barriers to participating in sport are no different for English- and French-speaking athletes. However, there is a clear need to continue to reinforce access to both official languages in the Canadian sport system, since the report found that some areas of access and service delivery could be improved. The study indicated that few linguistic barriers were identified at the national team level; any possible barriers usually appeared at a lower competitive level.
This independent study made 14 recommendations to improve the level of bilingualism within the Canadian sport community. Over the coming months, the Government of Canada will work with its partners and the Commissioner of Official Languages to develop an action plan in response to the study's recommendations as part of its commitment to promote a barrier-free sport system.
Linguistic Barriers to Access to High-Performance Sport responds to the last of 17 recommendations made in the Commissioner of Official Languages' 2000 study, Official Languages in the Canadian Sport System and the 2003 follow-up report.

The Government of Canada is the single largest investor in Canada's sport system. A total of $140 million is being provided in 2005--2006 to support initiatives for high-performance athletes and to increase Canadians' participation in sport.
Linguistic Barriers to Access to High Performance Sport - Study (2005)
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Information: Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Michael Chong
613-943-1833

Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101

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2016-12-15

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Government of Canada Implements the Final Recommendation of Official Languages in the Canadian Sport System Study

News Release

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