Published plans and annual reports 2025–2026: Ministry of Sport
Ministry overview
Ministry’s Vision
The Ministry of Sport plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life and well-being of Ontarians, ensuring long-term sustainability of the sport sector and promoting economic growth.
The ministry contributes to Ontario’s vibrant sport and recreation landscape, fostering active, healthy and resilient communities by working with its stakeholders and other ministries on key areas and priorities to promote youth participation in sport and community recreation, to increase opportunities and economic impact through sport event hosting, to expand support to the sport sector while keeping athletes safe, and to invest in community sport and recreation infrastructure.
The ministry improves quality of life and generates economic growth by:
- dncouraging healthy and active living at all ages
- strengthening communities and creating an environment where businesses and families can grow and thrive
- actively competing on the global stage to attract major sporting events, while enhancing Ontario’s reputation as a premier sport-hosting destination and showcasing the province as a top choice business investment
- leading and delivering in-demand After School Programs to serve Ontario’s high priority neighborhoods throughout the province and help marginalized youth access sport and recreation programs while supporting working families through offering safe and affordable afterschool childcare
- promoting provincial pride through celebrating athlete’s successes on local, provincial, national and international stages
- advancing the understanding of concussions in sport and raising awareness of concussion safety in amateur sport through Rowan’s Law
- taking action to address abuse in sport to support safe participation for everyone
- investing in the repair and construction of sport and recreation infrastructure to increase opportunities for Ontarians to participate in sport and recreation activities
Ministry programs
Sport, Recreation and Community Programs
The ministry promotes a culture that values sport and physical activity, while championing the social and economic benefits of active, engaged living for all Ontarians. The ministry provides support that enables growth of the sport and recreation sector, increases sport tourism and provides Ontarians and athletes of all abilities the opportunity to participate, achieve success and enjoy the benefits of being physically active.
The ministry supports safe sport by working with partners and Ontario's sport organizations to provide a culture and environment free of harassment, abuse and discrimination. Ontario is also a national leader in concussion safety as the only jurisdiction in Canada with concussion awareness and prevention legislation (Rowan's Law (Concussion Safety), 2018).
Sport and Athlete Development — Investments in various programs foster opportunities to strengthen the sport sector and help ensure the sport system welcomes all Ontarians to participate in organized sport.
The ministry provides funding to Provincial and Multi-Sport Organizations as the official governing bodies for their sport in Ontario in alignment with national standards; and funding to delivery partners and athletes for high-performance programs and services, coach training and education to build leadership in the sector.
Ontario's Sport Recognition Policy requires Provincial and Multi-Sport Organizations to have a harassment policy, screening policy, inclusion policy, discipline policy and a dispute resolution policy. The Sport Recognition Policy also requires each Provincial and Multi-Sport Organization to have a code of conduct for athletes, coaches, officials and boards of directors.
Sport Events/Hosting — The ministry provides support to national and international amateur sport events hosted in Ontario, generating an average of $30 million in gross domestic product (GDP) for Ontario each year. The ministry provides support and guidance for five sets of multi-sport events for youth (Ontario Winter and Summer Games), athletes with a disability (Parasport Games) and older adults (55+ Ontario Winter and Summer Games). These events generate economic impact of over $15 million every two years. The ministry is also responsible for Team Ontario's participation at the Canada Games, which are held every two years and celebrate youth, sport, culture and community.
Ontario Athletics Commission (OAC) — The ministry is responsible for the OAC, which oversees the administration and enforcement of the Combative Sports Act, 2019. The Act and its regulations set out the legal framework for amateur combative sports and professional boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts in Ontario.
Sport and Community Recreation — To enhance the capacity of organizations in the delivery of inclusive, high-quality physical activity experiences that help achieve active, healthy communities across Ontario, the ministry supports active recreation programs and infrastructure funding. Sport and recreation programs help reduce barriers to participation and support groups that lack equitable access, including low-income persons, Indigenous persons and persons with disabilities.
2025-26 strategic plan
Ministry strategic priorities for 2025-26 include:
Championing sport and recreation participation by developing sport policy, promoting athlete development, and hosting events, supporting grassroots community-based programming, and ensuring a safe sporting environment. These activities enable Ontarians to have quality experiences from playground to podium and support opportunities to increase economic returns.
Supporting the economic development and growth of the sport tourism sector by developing policy, delivering programs, supporting events, and attracting investment. These activities help build a stronger and more competitive sport tourism industry which will ensure that Ontario remains a destination of choice delivering economic returns and jobs in every community and region across the province.
Intended Outcome: Increased economic impact of sport in Ontario
Outcome: Increased economic impact of sport in Ontario
Indicator: Contribution to total sport GDP from Ontario
Target value and date: $3.0B (2025)
Programs that contribute to the KPI result
- Inclusive Grassroots Recreation Grants
- Indigenous and Youth Recreation Funds
- Sport Development Funds
- Sport Events and Initiatives Grants
- Grants in Support of Sport and Recreation
Outcome: Increasing economic opportunities related to sport
Indicator: Number of sport jobs in Ontario
Target value and date: 45,411 (2025)
Programs that contribute to the KPI result
- Inclusive Grassroots Recreation Grants
- Indigenous and Youth Recreation Funds
- Sport Development Funds
- Sport Events and Initiatives Grants
- Direct Athlete Supports
- Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund
Key Programs and Initiatives
The ministry’s key programs and investments include:
Investing $200 million through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) to provide Ontarians with the opportunity to live, work and play in their community.
- These investments in new and upgraded facilities will support Ontario’s growing population and ensure people across the province have access to the spaces they need to stay active.
- CSRIF will create local jobs, strengthen and enliven communities, and demonstrate the government’s commitment to providing Ontarians with more opportunities to participate in sport, recreation and other community activities.
- CSRIF’s investment in major infrastructure projects will lead to more opportunities to host provincial, national and international events, while leveraging the fast-growing sport tourism industry.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Operating | 62.8 |
| Capital | 150.0 |
| Total | 212.8 |
Note: Ministry Planned Expenditures include Statutory Appropriation.
Detailed Financial Information
Table 2: Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Vote
| Votes/programs | Estimates 2025–26 $ | Change from estimates 2024–25 $ | Estimates 2024–25 | Interim Actuals 2024–25 $ | Actuals 2023–24 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry Administration Program | 2,589,300 | 2,589,300 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Sport, Recreation and Community Programs - Operating | 60,212,200 | (452,400) | 60,664,600 | 61,106,500 | 52,975,001 |
| Total Operating Expense to be Voted | 62,801,500 | 2,136,900 | 60,664,600 | 61,106,500 | 52,975,001 |
| Statutory Appropriations | 65,014 | 64,014 | 1,000 | 1,000 | N/A |
| Ministry Total Operating Expense | 62,866,514 | 2,200,914 | 60,665,600 | 61,107,500 | 52,975,001 |
| Other Adjustments - Bill 124 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | (101,200) |
| Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments | 62,866,514 | 2,200,914 | 60,665,600 | 61,107,500 | 52,873,801 |
| Votes/programs | Estimates 2025–26 $ | Change from estimates 2024–25 $ | Estimates 2024–25 | Interim Actuals 2024–25 $ | Actuals 2023–24 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport, Recreation and Community Programs - Capital | 150,001,000 | 100,000,000 | 50,001,000 | 1,000 | N/A |
| Total Capital Expense to be Voted | 150,001,000 | 100,000,000 | 50,001,000 | 1,000 | N/A |
| Ministry Total Capital Expense | 150,001,000 | 100,000,000 | 50,001,000 | 1,000 | N/A |
| Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments | 150,001,000 | 100,000,000 | 50,001,000 | 1,000 | N/A |
| Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets) | 212,867,514 | 102,200,914 | 110,666,600 | 61,108,500 | 52,873,801 |
Historic Trend
| Historic trend analysis data | Actuals 2022–23 $ | Actuals 2023–24 $ | Estimates 2024–25 $ | Estimates 2025–26 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets) | 54,663,172 | 52,873,801 | 110,666,600 | 212,867,514 |
| Year-over-year increase | N/A | -3.3% | 109.3% | 92.4% |
* Estimates and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure.
For further information on SPORT’s programs and initiatives, see:
For additional financial information, see:
Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)
Advisory Agencies
Ontario Combative Sport Advisory Council: The Advisory Council provides expert advice to the Minister of Sport on professional and amateur combative sport rules, and other Minister’s regulations. Advice from the Council is helping to align Ontario’s rules and regulations with those in other leading jurisdictions and improve health and safety conditions for professional and amateur athletes.
Ministry organization chart
- Minister of Sport
- Deputy Minister
- Director, Communications Branch
(shared MCM, SPORT) - Executive Advisor
- Director, Legal Services Branch
(shared MTCG, MSAA, SPORT, MCM) - CIO, Community Services, I&IT Cluster
(shared EDU, MCURES, MMAH, MTCG, SPORT, MCM) - Sport, Recreation and Major Events
Assistant Deputy Minister- Policy
- Major Events
- Sport, Recreation and Community Programs
- Corporate Management Services Division
Chief Administrative Officer
(shared MCM, SPORT)- Corporate Policy and Coordination
- Strategic Corporate Management
SPORT organization chart as of May 2025.
Annual report
Strategic investments in the ministry’s programs continued to promote and support safe sport and recreation participation for individuals of all abilities across the province. These investments also help ensure Ontarians have access to spaces needed to stay active as well as enable growth of the sector and increase sport tourism.
The ministry is committed towards increasing the economic impact and the benefits of sport. Programs aim to improve these outcomes and are measured in a number of key performance indicators (including the most recent trend data available at the time of printing).
Outcome: Increased economic impact of sport in Ontario
Indicator: Contribution to total sport GDP from Ontario
- 2019: $2.8B
- 2020: $2.4B
- 2021: $2.5B
- 2022: $2.9B
- Target (2025): $3.0B
Outcome: Increasing economic opportunities related to sport
Indicator: Number of sport jobs in Ontario
- 2019: 42,564
- 2020: 34,348
- 2021: 38,111
- 2022: 44,075
- Target (2025): 45,411
Sport, Recreation and Community Programs
Description
The sport and recreation sectors are important to the physical, social and economic well-being of Ontarians. The ministry’s programs champion sport and recreation activities across the province.
The ministry leads Ontario's interests in recreation by providing funding for key partners to deliver programs that increase physical activity, including targeted supports to engage Indigenous communities; and provide after school programs for children and youth.
The ministry operates the Ontario Sport Hosting Program which provides project-based funding for applicants to deliver national and international amateur sport events in Ontario. The ministry also delivers five multi-sport games under its Games Ontario brand.
Progress and Results
- Launched the $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) to help communities revitalize existing community sport and recreation infrastructure and build new facilities and spaces. New and upgraded sport and recreation infrastructure makes it easier for Ontario residents to create healthier and more active lifestyles, improves sports accessibility and helps more communities across the province host local, national and international events and competitions.
- Committed more than $208,000 in new funding to the Coaches Association of Ontario and Parachute to update concussion resources, including those on Ontario.ca/concussions. This investment ensured Ontario athletes and coaches have access to current resources and protocols on concussion safety.
- Committed $14.6 million to more than 100 organizations through Ontario’s After School Program to help more than 13,000 children and youth in more than 80 communities across the province be active and healthy.
- Committed $235,000 to support Greater Sudbury’s successful bid in hosting the 2025 Ontario 55+ Summer Games.
- Invested $480,000 in Canadian Women & Sport’s The Next Play through the Inclusive Grassroots Recreation (IGR) program, to expand affordable and inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for girls across the province.
- Invested $300,000 in Jays Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, to help expand baseball programming for children and youth throughout the province. This funding is through the province’s IGR program, which expands sport and recreation opportunities for children and youth across Ontario.
| Item | Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures ($M) 2024–25 |
|---|---|
| Operating | 61.1 |
| Capital | 0.0 |
| Staff Strength | 66 |
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Estimates, Interim Actuals and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure. Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2025 Ontario Budget.
- footnote[2] Back to paragraph Estimates and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure.
- footnote[3] Back to paragraph Note: Interim Actual Expenditures reflect the numbers presented in the 2025 Ontario Budget.
- footnote[4] Back to paragraph Ontario Public Service Full-Time Equivalent positions.