Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Sport (2026–2027)
Summary
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.
Ministry program summary
| Vote | Program | Estimates 2026–27 $ |
Estimates 2025–26 $ |
Difference between 2026–27 and 2025–26 $ |
Actual 2024–25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5301 | Ministry Administration Program | 4,220,500 | 2,589,300 | 1,631,200 | - |
| 5302 | Sport, Recreation and Community Programs | 112,831,200 | 60,212,200 | 52,619,000 | 60,297,299 |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 117,051,700 | 62,801,500 | 54,250,200 | 60,297,299 | |
| Statutory appropriations | 90,060 | 65,014 | 25,046 | - | |
| Ministry total operating expense | 117,141,760 | 62,866,514 | 54,275,246 | 60,297,299 |
| Vote | Program | Estimates 2026–27 $ |
Estimates 2025–26 $ |
Difference between 2026–27 and 2025–26 $ |
Actual 2024–25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5302 | Sport, Recreation and Community Programs | 168,001,000 | 150,001,000 | 18,000,000 | - |
| Total capital expense to be voted | 168,001,000 | 150,001,000 | 18,000,000 | - | |
| Ministry total capital expense | 168,001,000 | 150,001,000 | 18,000,000 | - | |
| Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets) | 285,142,760 | 212,867,514 | 72,275,246 | 60,297,299 |
Reconciliation to previously published data
| Operating expense | Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|
| Total Operating Expense previously published |
62,866,514 | - |
| Government Reorganization | ||
Transfer of functions from other Ministries |
- | 60,297,299 |
| Restated Total Operating Expense | 62,866,514 | 60,297,299 |
Ministry Administration Program — vote 5301
The Ministry Administration Program includes the Offices of the Minister, Parliamentary Assistant and Deputy Minister. The program works to achieve ministry and government objectives by providing strategic advice and vital support services.
Vote summary
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026–27 $ |
Estimates 2025–26 $ |
Difference between 2026–27 and 2025–26 $ |
Actual 2024–25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ministry Administration | 4,220,500 | 2,589,300 | 1,631,200 | - |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 4,220,500 | 2,589,300 | 1,631,200 | - | |
| S | Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act | 66,559 | 47,841 | 18,718 | - |
| S | Parliamentary Assistant’s salary, the Executive Council Act | 22,501 | 16,173 | 6,328 | - |
| Total statutory appropriations | 89,060 | 64,014 | 25,046 | - | |
| Total operating expense | 4,309,560 | 2,653,314 | 1,656,246 | - |
Standard accounts classification
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|
| 5301—1 | Ministry Administration | |
Salaries and wages |
1,999,500 | |
Employee benefits |
276,900 | |
Transportation and communication |
47,000 | |
Services |
1,852,700 | |
Supplies and equipment |
43,400 | |
Transfer payments |
||
Summer Experience Program (SEP) |
1,000 | |
| Total Operating Expense to be Voted | 4,220,500 | |
Statutory Appropriations |
||
| Statutory | Minister’s Salary, the Executive Council Act |
66,559 |
| Statutory | Parliamentary Assistant’s Salary, the Executive Council Act |
22,501 |
| Total operating expense for Ministry Administration Program | 4,309,560 |
Sport, Recreation and Community Programs — vote 5302
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 advances Ontario’s recreation priorities by funding key partners to deliver programs that increase physical activity, support Indigenous participation, provide after school opportunities for children and youth, and strengthen community sport and recreation infrastructure.
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, generating economic impact in communities throughout the province. The ministry also delivers five multi-sport games under its Games Ontario brand, broadly supporting youth, parasport athletes, and Ontarians aged 55+. The ministry also works to attract larger sport events that generate higher amounts of economic activity and establish Ontario as a global leader in sport tourism.
Support for amateur sport is focused on participation, development and excellence in collaboration with sector partners. The goal is to promote and increase opportunities for athletes of all ages and abilities, while leveraging mass participation in amateur sport to generate economic impact for Ontario.
The ministry aims to foster healthier, more active communities by revitalizing existing infrastructure and supporting the development of new, transformative spaces that improve accessibility, programming and local participation in sport and recreation through the delivery of the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund.
The ministry plays a central coordinating role across the provincial government, ensuring that all ministries and agencies are aligned, prepared, and operationally ready for Toronto’s hosting of FIFA World Cup 2026.
The ministry also has oversight and responsibility for amateur and professional combative sport and is working to make Ontario a leader in sport safety through a new modern system of oversight under the Combative Sports Act, 2019, and its accompanying regulations.
Vote summary
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026–27 $ |
Estimates 2025–26 $ |
Difference between 2026–27 and 2025–26 $ |
Actual 2024–25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sport, Recreation and Community | 112,831,200 | 60,212,200 | 52,619,000 | 60,297,299 |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 112,831,200 | 60,212,200 | 52,619,000 | 60,297,299 | |
| S | Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act | 1,000 | 1,000 | - | - |
| Total statutory appropriations | 1,000 | 1,000 | - | - | |
| Total operating expense | 112,832,200 | 60,213,200 | 52,619,000 | 60,297,299 |
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026–27 $ |
Estimates 2025–26 $ |
Difference between 2026–27 and 2025–26 $ |
Actual 2024–25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sport, Recreation and Community | 168,001,000 | 150,001,000 | 18,000,000 | - |
| Total capital expense to be voted | 168,001,000 | 150,001,000 | 18,000,000 | - | |
| Total capital expense | 168,001,000 | 150,001,000 | 18,000,000 | - |
Standard accounts classification
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5302—1 | Sport, Recreation and Community | ||
Salaries and wages |
16,620,200 | ||
Employee benefits |
3,027,300 | ||
Transportation and communication |
389,800 | ||
Services |
1,489,600 | ||
Supplies and equipment |
417,400 | ||
Transfer payments |
|||
Sport Events and Initiatives Grants |
46,192,200 | ||
Sport Development Funds |
17,161,500 | ||
Direct Athlete Supports |
3,100,000 | ||
Inclusive Grassroots Recreation Grants |
3,331,000 | ||
Indigenous and Youth Recreation Funds |
21,102,200 | 90,886,900 | |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 112,831,200 | ||
| Statutory appropriations | |||
Other transactions |
|||
| Statutory | Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act |
1,000 | |
| Total operating expense for sport, recreation and community programs | 112,832,200 |
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|
| 5302—3 | Sport, Recreation and Community | |
Transfer payments |
||
Grants in support of sport and recreation |
168,001,000 | |
| Total capital expense to be voted | 168,001,000 | |
| Total capital expense for sport, recreation and community programs | 168,001,000 |
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Total Operating Expense includes Statutory Appropriations, Special Warrants and total operating expense to be voted.