OTTAWA, February 23, 2010 - The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), and the Honourable Dustin Duncan, Saskatchewan Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, reaffirmed their support for increasing sport participation and enhancing opportunities for the participation of Aboriginal people in sport through a two-year sport bilateral agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan.
Under this agreement, the Government of Canada's contribution to Saskatchewan is more than $500,000 over two years. An existing Aboriginal bilateral agreement with the Government of Canada is already in place to support provincial Aboriginal sport body capacity building and to enhance opportunities for Aboriginal people's participation in sport.
"This new bilateral agreement will help increase sport participation in the province," said Minister of State Lunn. "It will support initiatives that encourage children, young people, people with disabilities, and Aboriginal people of Saskatchewan to increase their participation in sport and be more physically active."
The funding will assist the provincial government in delivering projects that include community sport, programming for children and youth, development of coaches and officials, and implementation of long-term athlete development.
"This new agreement demonstrates the commitment the federal and provincial governments have to the Saskatchewan sport sector," said Minister Duncan. "It will also increase the level of sport and physical activity in Saskatchewan. Being active is important for our physical, emotional, and mental health. This is the kind of program that helps make Saskatchewan such a great place to live."
The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan believe that participation in sport is part of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to a healthy society. Sport strengthens individuals, and it also strengthens communities by bringing together people of all backgrounds and ages.
The Government of Canada is the single largest investor in Canada's sport system and supports participation and excellence from the playground to the podium. This contribution is being provided through Sport Canada's Sport Support Program, a key instrument in the government's overall approach to sport development in Canada.
For more information (media only), please contact:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable
Gary Lunn, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
vanessa.schneider@pch.gc.ca
Janice Wilby
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
306-787-5781
janice.wilby@gov.sk.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
