The Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) is a non-taxable, federal government-funded program that gives high-performance athletes direct funding to help assist in relieving financial pressures associated with participating in international sport. Along with providing a living and training allowance that covers tuition and some living costs. AAP is one of three Sport Canada programs designed to help the development of high-performance sport. It is the only program where athletes receive direct funding. The program has over 1900 athletes in more than 90 sports approved for support.
How Eligibility Works
The AAPis limited to athletes who participate in a National Sport Organization's (NSO) high-performance sport program. To qualify, the NSO program must meet Sport Canada’s high-performance evaluation criteria and must be receiving funding from Sport Canada through the Sport Support Program (SSP).
NSO Requirements
In addition to meeting specific criteria and receiving funding, NSOs have extra criteria they have to meet:
- NSOs must have a world championship or an equivalent championship to represent in the upcoming Olympic/Paralympic level that is recurring at least every other year;
- NSOs must have a national team program based on year-round training principles that include domestic and international competitive opportunities for each of the carded athletes;
- The NSO must develop and publish AAP-compliant, sport specific carding criteria for AAP nominations;
- The NSO must have a plan in place that will allow for the formal monitoring of each carded athlete’s progress made;
- NSOs must conduct a formal process for selecting athletes to national teams; selection rules and procedures must be published and made known to all concerned.
For athletes to be nominated for AAP funding, the individual must
- a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- eligible to represent Canada at major international competitions;
- Athlete must participate in national preparatory and annual training programs during their time in AAP;
- Must be available to represent Canada in major international competitions;
- Must meet the published NSO-approved AAP compliant carding criteria.
How separating will affect athletes
If Alberta were to separate from Canada, the province’s sport ecosystem would face severe disruptions. Albertan athletes would no longer have access to any Sport Canada programs as they would no longer meet the baseline eligibility requirements. This means athletes will lose access to any Team Canada pipelines, and Alberta may not be internationally recognized as an eligible country for major competitions.
According to the Government of Canada’s official website, “athletes outside of Canada are not normally eligible for AAP support. Any exceptions made must be submitted through NSOs.”Since Alberta would no longer be a part of Canada, all Albertan NSOs may be seen as ineligible and lose certifications.
Another concern for Albertan sports is that so far, there has been no mention of budget allocation for sports. In Stacey Hatcher’s article “If Alberta Separates – What Happens to Sport?” Hatcher brings up how Canada’s sport system is built on National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Organizations such as Hockey Canada, Canada Soccer, Volleyball Canada and Athletics Canada are a part of this system. Provincial systems rely on NGBs.
If Alberta separates, sport becomes less accessible to everyone. Sports that create communities and have giant fan bases will likely be removed. High-performance athletes lose crucial funding that helps them.
Without national certifications, no hosting rights and no plans for funding, sports may halt in Alberta. Unfortunately, all Albertan athletes receiving the AAP support will no longer be eligible and will have to find another way to create funding for themselves – athletically and academically. With no documents released on funding for sports, Albertan sports may not get any crucial government funding for a while.
