The evolution of Canadian sport policy

Abstract

Canadian sport policy has witnessed important changes in the last century. Governmental intervention has increased in conjunction with the breadth and scope of sport policy. This article examines the evolution of Canadian sport policy to identify dominant ideas and institutions highlighting the importance of these in sport policy-making. Although several authors have noted the dominance of excellence in sport policy orientation, few studies have examined the role of ideas and institutions in Canadian sport policy formulation. The few notable exceptions are either comparative studies or are focused on high performance sport. This article argues that formal and informal institutions such as federalism, institutionalized relations and ideas have played and continue to play a key role in orienting Canadian sport policy by enabling and constraining policy options.