Official Opposition Opinion on Sport in Canada

The Official Opposition sees sports as integral to Canadian life and Canadian communities. Whether urban or rural, northern or southern, maritimes or prairies, freshwater lakes or mountain, winter or summer, professional or amateur, organized or spontaneous, sport is an element of the Canadian psyche and Canadian culture.

It is clear from the Sub-Committee's study that there is more to "sports" than meets the eye. Sports contribute to the moral and social as well as to the physical development and well-being of Canadian youth and adults. We are satisfied that the main body of this report accurately reflects the testimony given by witnesses who appeared before the Sub-Committee.

However, we identify at least two broad problems with the recommendations in the main body of the report:

1. The expenditure proposals, both direct grants and subsidies as well as tax concessions and credits, require more research to ascertain their effectiveness in the medium and long terms. We would prefer to see a cost-benefit analysis before making a decision as to the implementation of any expenditure recommendations. In this respect we believe the main body of this report betrays a weakness.

2. The creation of new boards and committees on dimensions of sport, as well as any existing boards, committees, and agencies of the Government, should be subject to review by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

In closing, we extend our thanks to the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, Mr. Dennis Mills, M.P., for initiating what could form the basis of more detailed investigation of the role, the place, and contributions of sport to who we are and will become as 21st-century Canadians.