Fourteen members appointed to Ministerial Athletes Advisory Committee

(Ottawa) Federal Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough announced Friday the names of the 14 members who will make up the new Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee.

Gymnast Ellie Black of Halifax, who will compete in her fourth Olympic Games in a few weeks in Paris, and soccer player Vanessa Gilles of Ottawa are among the athletes who were selected after an open call for applications.

The goal of this committee is to provide athletes with a platform to make their views known directly to the Government of Canada.

The committee will provide advice and direction on a variety of topics, including safety in sport, governance and accountability of the sport system, the Canadian Sport Policy and federal financial assistance.

Budget 2024 provides $35 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $7 million ongoing for the Athlete Assistance Program. This program would increase funding allocations for athletes.

There will also be $16 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, for the Sport Support Program, which will help create a safer and more welcoming sport environment for all athletes, from entry-level to Olympic and Paralympic levels.

“Athletes are at the heart of the Canadian sport system. Through the Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee, we will work directly with athletes to develop sport policies and programs to ensure their perspectives are reflected in the sport system. I look forward to working with Canadian athletes on the issues that matter most to them,” said Qualtrough.