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Canada 'way behind most countries'

Broadcast Date: May 12, 1969

The country's media converge in Ottawa for a press conference as the federal government reveals the recommendations of its special taskforce report on sports in Canada. In this CBC Radio clip, taskforce Chairman Harold Ray says the report deals harshly with "intellectual snobbery" concerning sport. He says that Canada is "way behind most countries" when it comes to funding of amateur sports, and that sport in Canada "deserves to be elevated" to a higher plane in the public forum.

Canada 'way behind most countries'

• In 1961 the federal government passed the Amateur Sport and Fitness Act, establishing the government's formal and long-term commitment to amateur sport and the fitness and health of all Canadians. The Act called for the appropriation of $5 million a year but, according to Harold Ray, in no year was that full amount spent. The report called for the federal government to bring this expenditure up to date and commit $6.25 million a year to amateur sport and fitness.

• The actual special task force report, which was originally tabled in the House of Commons, ran 112 pages in length.

Canada 'way behind most countries'

Medium: Radio

Program: CBC Radio News Special

Broadcast Date: May 12, 1969

Guest(s): John Munro, Harold Ray

Host: Hub Boudry
Reporter: Don Goodman

Duration: 17:10

Photo: National Archives of Canada (PA-130365)

Last updated:
May 2, 2005