The Government of Canada has announced a funding boost to the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP). The program, administered by Sport Canada, was developed to offer financial assistance to world-class athletes as they train for and compete at top international events.
Athletes who have been “carded” by their national federations, based on their results at the Olympics, Paralymics, world championship and world cup events, are eligible to receive funding to use toward training and living expenses, and where applicable, tuition fees.
Direct funding to Senior Carded athletes has remained at $18,000 a year since 2004, despite a 24 per cent increase in cost of living, while Development Carded athletes (age eligible junior athletes who have the potential to achieve Senior Card status) have received $10,800 a year. Now, in his 2017 budget, Finance Minister Bill Morneau has announced the program will receive an additional $5 million dollars a year. It has yet to be announced how and when this change will be rolled out.