Ontario’s sport and recreation sector was among the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. It continues to experience significant and ongoing challenges and will be among the last to recover. That’s why my colleagues, Minister MacLeod, joined by Minister Bethlenfalvy, announced an investment of $30 million from the Ontario government to stabilize Ontario’s sport and recreation sector, help offset increased costs as a result of COVID-19 and support the sector’s future recovery in communities across the province.
This includes:
- $20 million to ministry-recognized Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) and Multi-Sport Organizations (MSOs) to distribute to their local member clubs such as soccer, karate and volleyball
- $7 million to the Ontario Sport Network to distribute to local community-based sport and recreation organizations such as dance and cheerleading through an application process
- $3 million to assist the Ontario Hockey League’s 17 teams in communities across the province meet their academic scholarship commitments for current and former players.
Supporting PSOs, MSOs and local sport and recreation clubs and organizations is vital to their long-term viability and will ensure these organizations are well positioned to provide services and opportunities for youth and adults across Ontario as they return to physical activity and competition.
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