Four Paralympians named to Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee

Four Paralympians are among the 14 athletes who will form the new Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, announced this past Friday.

The Paralympians are boccia player Alison Levine of Montreal (2016, 2020, 2024 Paralympic Games), Para ice hockey player Rob Armstrong of Erin, Ont., (2018, 2022 Winter Paralympics), wheelchair basketball player Erica Gavel of Prince Albert, Sask., (2016) and thrower Ness Murby of Toronto (2016).

Through this Ministerial Advisory Committee, athletes will have a dedicated platform to share their perspectives directly with the Government of Canada. They will provide advice and guidance on a range of priorities including safe sport, governance and accountability, the Canadian Sport Policy, and federal funding.

Athletes were selected following an open call for applications. The Committee will meet every three months with the first meeting expected to take place following the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in the fall.

A call for applications took place from February 1 to March 12, 2023, for athletes to express interest in participating in an Athlete Advisory Committee. Following the elevation of the Advisory Committee to a Ministerial Advisory Committee, the call for applications was re-opened from January 11 to February 6, 2024, for Canadian senior national team athletes to express interest in participating.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide:

$35 million over five years, starting in 2024–25, and $7 million ongoing for the Athlete Assistance Program. This would increase the funding allowance for supported athletes and support additional athletes in new Olympic and Paralympic sport disciplines.

$16 million over two years, starting in 2024–25, for the Sport Support Program to help create a safer and more welcoming sport environment for all athletes, from amateurs to Olympians and Paralympians. Priorities will include preventing and addressing maltreatment, supporting those with concussions and mental health issues, and advancing inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.

“Athletes are at the centre of the Canadian sport system, ‘’ said Minister Qualtrough. ‘’Through the Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee, we will engage directly with athletes on sport policies and program development to ensure their perspectives are reflected across the sport system. I’d like to thank everyone who applied and welcome the athletes who will form this new Advisory Committee. I’m excited to get to work on tackling the issues that matter most to Canada’s athletes, together.”

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