Federal-Provincial-Territorial Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport

Toronto, January 28, 2000 --The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Sport met in Toronto today to discuss the long term future of the Canada Games. The Canada Games, a recurring festival of sport competition, fosters the development of and showcases sporting excellence amongst Canada's youth. The Games provide an opportunity for these young Canadians to share experiences with their peers from across the country.

At the invitation of the Ministers, the conference was addressed by Mr. Jack Pelech, Chair of the Canada Games Council accompanied by Mr. Lane MacAdam, Council President and Chief Executive Officer. After describing the successful development of the Canada Games, Mr. Pelech informed the Ministers that he will be stepping down at the 2001 Canada Summer Games in London. The presentation included the Canada Games Council's plan for accountability, transparency and marketing. Ministers approved the communications measures proposed by the Council; accepted its $5.5 million as a minimum target for sponsorship, supplies, and donations for the 2003 Games to be held in the Bathurst-Campbellton Region of New Brunswick; and requested a detailed process for monitoring and review of the Council's marketing performance for 2001 and 2003 Games.

The Ministers formally expressed their appreciation to Mr. Pelech, founding Chair of the Council, for his dedicated service to the Games since 1971, an unprecedented record of volunteer commitment.

Confirming their commitment to the Games and to the continued development of Canada's athletes, the Ministers endorsed a series of principles concerning the Canada Games and the Canada Games Council in response to issues identified by Ministers at their 1999 Conference. The principles confirm the funding for the Games up to and including 2009 through the existing financial framework, and also outline a process for its implementation. These principles will take effect upon the appointment of the Canada Games Council Chair-designate later this year.

The Ministers requested that the Canada Games Council submit a plan to the Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments for generating additional revenue including a proposal on the feasibility of a Foundation to help finance future Games. This report is to be ready for the Ministers 2001 Conference, which will be held in conjunction with the 2001 Canada Summer Games in London, Ontario. In addition, Ministers requested that their officials prepare a proposal that will consider a financial framework for the Canada Games beyond 2009.

Ministers received a report from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport on the current status of the Canadian Policy Against Doping in Sport, outlining the current doping control program operating in Canada and the related procedural and penalty structures. The report also proposed a framework and a timeline for a more complete report to the Ministers, including the roles all governments can play in the protection of values in sport, at their 2001 Conference.

Federal Secretary of State for Amateur Sport, Denis Coderre, provided information on an upcoming series of regional sport conferences, leading to a Canadian Summit on Sport in early 2001 to address the importance of sport to Canadians.

Quebec for its part expressed significant concern with an initiative intended to establish national standards in areas of Quebec jurisdiction.

The Ministers' next Conference will held be in London, Ontario in 2001.

The schedule of Canada Games include:

2001 Summer - Ontario
2003 Winter - New Brunswick
2005 Summer - Saskatchewan
2007 Winter - Yukon
2009 Summer - Prince Edward Island

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