Future of Sport in Canada Commission Preliminary Report Released

Future of Sport in Canada Commission has released its Preliminary Report, which sets out 71 preliminary recommendations aimed at enhancing safe sport and improving the sport system in Canada.

The Preliminary Report is structured in two parts:

Part I examines the leadership, alignment, funding and governance of the Canadian sport system. It identifies a leadership void, an overemphasis on high performance sport, a misalignment among sport organizations, widespread funding challenges and inadequate governance across the system. The Commission calls for the creation of a Centralized Sport Entity to provide national leadership in sport and physical activity, a shift toward horizontal and vertical alignment among sport organizations, a fundamental overhaul of funding strategies and stronger governance practices.

Part II addresses safe sport—calling maltreatment in Canadian sport both widespread and on-going. It proposes a national strategy centered on prevention, response, and support. Key recommendations include standardized education and training, mandatory background screenings, improved safe sport complaint mechanisms, and a national public registry of sanctioned individuals.

Feedback on the preliminary recommendations will be gathered during the National Summit on the Future of Sport which will take place on September 8 and 9, 2025 and September 11 and 12, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario.

An online feedback form is also now available to provide feedback on the findings and recommendations of the Preliminary Report. The form will remain open until September 29, 2025.

This feedback will help inform the findings and recommendations in the Commission’s Final Report, which is set to be published in early 2026.