Canadian sport needs an overhaul. That was the conclusion of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission’s final report released Tuesday.

“The work must begin now,” said Lise Maisonneuve, a former chief justice of the Ontario court of justice, who headed the commission.

“Our review has revealed the Canadian sport system is broken, fragmented and in its present form, unsustainable.

“In many settings, and for far too many people, it has caused and continues to cause real lasting harm.”

The commission’s mandate was to make the Canadian sport system better and safer.

“As we discovered in our work, these two matters are deeply interconnected,” Maisonneuve said.

“Sport in Canada stands at a defining moment. Canadians expect meaningful and concrete transformation.”

Announced in December 2023 by former federal sports minister Carla Qualtrough, the commission was among various federal government remedies in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports, both current and historical, that surfaced after the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

The commission held cross-country consultations, conducted a public survey, held a summit and issued two public reports over nearly two years.

Maisonneuve said the commission heard submissions from over 1,000 individuals, including 175 survivors of abuse and maltreatment.

“We listened and what we heard was heart-wrenching,” she said.

The report issued 98 calls to action for phased-in change over five years, but starting immediately.

The commission identified that abuse is widespread and ongoing at all levels of sport, and that complaint mechanisms are fragmented and inconsistent across the country.

Power imbalances create a culture of silence and “is one of the most dangerous features of the system,” Maisonneuve said.

“We heard repeatedly about athletes afraid to speak out, parents punished for raising concerns, whistleblowers sidelined, and victims re-traumatized by the complaint processes. Too often, winning, reputation and funding are prioritized over safety and dignity.”

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Federal funding hasn’t kept pace with inflation or the expanding responsibilities of sport organizations.

“An underfunded sports system is an unsafe sports system,” she said.

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Sheldon Kennedy: Has hockey’s culture improved amid World Juniors sexual assault case?

Sport overall has become too expensive, inaccessible and exclusive for broad participation, she added.

The report calls for a single federal minister responsible for sport with a dedicated department. Sport currently falls under both the Heritage and Health portfolios.

The report also states there should be a centralized sport entity overseeing sport as a Crown corporation, which is structured like a private corporation, but under government control.

“We need a new model of leadership,” Maisonneuve said. “Canada lacks a single point of leadership for sport and physical activity.”

Olympic moguls skier Philippe Marquis, who is now coaches Freestyle Canada’s young talent, took a wait-and-see approach to the final report, while he lauded the commission for its work.

“The one thing that keeps my optimism alive is the fact that we have a bit of this perfect storm right now,” said the 36-year-old from Quebec City.

“The recipe, the elements are here at this specific time to be transformational, so I am optimistic because of that. If we speak in three months, six months and nothing has moved and there’s no light in sight I think there will be a wave of discouragement across the system.

“The report is great. It’s based on fact. It’s concrete. It’s real. We’ve never had such a good portrait of the whole Canadian sports system.”

Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden said in a statement that the report makes clear that urgent, system-wide action is needed.

“We accept the findings and will now carefully review the recommendations and actions that must be taken to strengthen safe sport and improve the sport system at all levels in Canada,” he said.

“Abuse and maltreatment have no place in sport. Sport participants should have access to safe, welcoming, inclusive, and accountable sport environments that uphold public trust.

“We recognize that restoring trust in the sport system requires meaningful, co-ordinated action across all levels.”

There have been eight changes in the federal leadership of sport over 15 years of Liberal government.

Van Koeverden, who was appointed last year, said the report “will shape the next chapter of sport in Canada.”

“It also shows that we need to fix bigger, system-wide problems, including how sport is managed across the country and gaps in safety protections,” he continued. “It was the voices of survivors that broke the culture of silence. Their time, insights, and lived experiences have created a pathway forward for a better Canada.”

“Our new government will now focus on developing our response and implementation plan, working closely with the provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, athletes, under-represented communities, sport organizations and private sector stakeholders nationwide. This work will be grounded in stronger coordination, transparency, and accountability across the sport system.”

Funding was a common thread in the report. The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees have asked on behalf of national sport organizations in two successive federal budgets for an increase in core funding, which they say has been stagnant since 2005.

The most recent ask was for a $144-million increase in core funding, which is annual money NSOs count on to fund operations, athletes, coaches and support staff. One of the commission’s calls to action is every sport organization that receives federal funding have a safe sport officer on staff.

The federal government spends over $250 million annually on sport. In a published report in 2023-24, it was $266.8 million spent on high-performance sport, hosting international events, increasing sport participation and improving safe sport practices.

A new poll finds there is growing support for a proposal to lower an Old Age Security (OAS) threshold for some Canadians in order to help reduce the federal government’s deficit.

Seventy-three per cent of Canadians polled this month said they support such a move, which would effectively trim back Old Age Security from higher income tiers, according to Generation Squeeze’s research poll.

Although nearly three quarters of respondents said they supported this proposal, that was on the condition that the savings are used to eliminate seniors’ poverty and reduce living costs for younger generations, the polling found.

Old Age Security is one of the most costly contributors to Ottawa’s roughly $78 billion projected deficit, according to Generation Squeeze, a Canadian think tank advocacy group.

Generation Squeeze says by lowering the current income threshold for when OAS benefits begin to gradually phase out — for couples, from $185,000 down to $100,000 —  Ottawa could save up to $7 billion annually.

Old Age Security is a federal benefit available to Canadian seniors aged 65 and older, with certain monthly amounts paid based on income, age and residency.

However, it gives hundreds of dollars a month to seniors with household incomes over $100,000 per year, which has spurred increasing calls from advocates like Generation Squeeze to claw that back from higher income tiers.

Currently, the government of Canada lists those aged 65 to 74 as eligible to receive $742.31 maximum a month if their annual net world income is less than $148,451. Those aged 75 and above are eligible to receive $816.54 maximum a month if their annual net world income is less than $154,196.

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The amounts depend on “age, income, and the number of years you have lived in Canada.”

That is in addition to money individuals are eligible for from the Canada Pension Plan, or from personal or employer retirement savings plans. Lower-income seniors can also get the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

0:42
OAS and CPP payments to roll out Wednesday, here are the amounts

Approximately six in 10 respondents said they would support lowering the threshold even further to $81,000 or less. By doing so, Generation Squeeze says the annual savings would rise to roughly $13 billion.

The Generation Squeeze opinion poll on OAS reform was conducted in partnership with Research Co. from March 12 to March 14, 2026, and about 1,000 Canadians participated.

Generation Squeeze said in a release that based on their findings, only four per cent of seniors are excluded from OAS because their incomes are too high.

By reducing the income threshold for OAS clawbacks as proposed, Generation Squeeze says the top-earning 20 per cent of seniors that receive the payments would see their benefits shrink, and by an average of $3,000 or less per person each year.

4:12
Is it time to revamp Canada’s Old Age Security program?

The Iran war is the latest curveball for Canadians trying to keep up with the higher cost of living as spiking oil prices have translated into rising costs at the gas pump. Businesses faced with these higher fuel costs are also being pressured and may have to raise prices charged to consumers as a result, including for groceries.

Prior to the war, U.S. tariffs and trade war uncertainty have led business owners to pause hiring plans, leading to a difficult job market in Canada.

The inflation spike since the pandemic combined with higher interest rates have pressured Canadians to cut spending wherever possible to make ends meet.

“Canadians have spoken – clearly and consistently. Prime Minister Mark Carney should use that support to fix and modernize the most expensive line in his budget – and deliver a once-in-a-generation improvement in affordability for young and old alike,” said Generation Squeeze.

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The New Brunswick government is looking for a company to reopen a mine that used to be one of North America’s largest producers of the critical mineral antimony.

The former Lake George mine, about 30 kilometres southwest of Fredericton, operated intermittently from 1876 to 1996, according to a government website.

The shiny grey metal is mainly used as a flame retardant, but it is also used in solar panels, lead-acid batteries and more recently in infrared missiles, nuclear weapons and night vision goggles.

“With global supply heavily concentrated in China, there is growing demand for secure and reliable sources (for critical minerals),” the government said in a statement released Tuesday.

“The project represents an opportunity to support domestic supply chains while advancing economic development in the province.”

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As well, the government says bidders must demonstrate their technical expertise, financial capacity and commitment to working with Indigenous communities. Regulatory and environmental reviews are also required.

Citing a historical technical report, the government said the mine is believed to contain about 800,000 tonnes of antimony-bearing ore. At current prices, the potential value is more than $900 million.

Natural Resources Minister John Herron announced a competitive process for expressions of interest, but said no mineral rights will be awarded until a formal exploration agreement is reached.

“In today’s economic and geopolitical climate, the need for secure, responsibly produced critical minerals has never been greater,” Herron said in a statement.

“New Brunswick is well positioned to meet that demand by attracting investment, supporting responsible development, and strengthening partnerships with Indigenous communities to create long-term economic benefits for New Brunswickers.”

The government says the mine could also contain two other critical minerals: tungsten and molybdenum.

Meanwhile, the province is also moving forward with supporting a plan to develop a tungsten mine near Sisson Brook in northern New Brunswick.

In November, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed the project was among the second batch of potentially “nation-building” infrastructure projects to be reviewed on expedited timelines.

Also on the list are critical minerals mines in Ontario and Quebec.

The proposed Sisson open-pit mine is a partnership between Vancouver-based Northcliff Resources and its majority owner, New Zealand’s Todd Corp.

Tungsten is an exceptionally strong metal used to harden cutting tools and provide strength to parts used in the defence and aerospace industries.

The Sisson project received federal approval in 2017 and has since been granted two extensions for construction deadlines.

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The federal minimum wage in Canada is set to go up.

The federal minimum wage will rise from the current $17.75 to $18.15 an hour, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) said Tuesday in a press release.

This will apply to all workers in federally regulated industries such as air transportation, banking, most federal Crown corporations, ports and telecommunication, among others.

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Business Matters: Canada’s annual inflation rate falls to 1.8% in February

The new minimum wage will represent a 21 per cent increase compared to 2021, the government said.

The federal minimum wage is indexed to inflation, which rose by 2.1 per cent in 2025.

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“An employee should be paid at least the federal minimum wage. If the minimum wage of the province or territory where the employee usually works is higher than the federal minimum wage, the employer is to pay the higher minimum wage,” ESDC says on its website.

Starting April 1, all employers in federally regulated private sectors will be required to adjust their payrolls accordingly.

After April 1, Yukon ($18.51) and Nunavut ($19.75) will have minimum wages higher than the federal minimum wage, while British Columbia’s minimum wage is set to rise to $18.25 in June.

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Following two recent court decisions siding with First Nations under British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, Premier David Eby is considering amendments that would weaken the legislation.

First Nations leaders have called on Eby to leave the bill alone.

The bill, known as DRIPA, requires B.C. to take “all measures” to align the rights of Indigenous Peoples with existing provincial legislation. Amendments proposed in a confidential letter sent to some First Nations leaders in B.C. on Monday say the government is looking to amend the bill to promise “ongoing processes” to align select legislation with DRIPA.

The provincial Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, or DRIPA, was passed in 2019.

It’s based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which requires free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous Peoples on matters affecting their rights, lands, territories and resources.

The federal government has similarly adopted the UN principle and is working toward its implementation, though its view is it does not constitute a veto on development.

Eby told reporters last week his government is trying its best to work with chiefs across the province to address concerns about the court decisions. They both cited DRIPA and sided with First Nations on mining and property rights, which the provincial government has said isn’t the intention of the law.

One found the provincial mineral claims regime is “inconsistent” with DRIPA, and another recognized the Cowichan Tribes’ Aboriginal title on land along the Fraser River, with titles held by Canada and the City of Richmond deemed “defective and invalid.”

In response to the mineral claims case, Eby has said it’s “crucial that it is British Columbians through their elected representatives that remain in control of this process, not the courts.”

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“Too much rides on it in terms of our province’s prosperity and certainty going forward.”

2:12
DRIPA court challenge launched

If the amendments are passed, it could complicate relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Eby’s government as it looks to get major projects built to boost its economy in the face of trade threats from the United States.

Eby has been facing growing questions over the future of the legislation, and has been criticized over the process in which changes are being discussed.

The proposed changes have remained out of the public eye. The letter sent to First Nations leaders on Monday, which included a link to a document with details of the proposed amendments, said it was “subject to cabinet confidence” and was shared under a confidentiality agreement, which some leaders agreed to in order to allow for consultations.

The Canadian Press has viewed both documents.

Some First Nations leaders have told media they have yet to see the proposed amendments themselves, despite signing that confidentiality agreement.

The province is scheduled to host a briefing about the proposed changes with First Nations leaders on Wednesday, and those leaders are asked to provide feedback by 4 p.m. on Friday. A one-hour meeting for those leaders has also been set for April 1 with Eby, Attorney General Niki Sharma and Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert.

The letter says the government is open to changes and acknowledges the “compressed timelines.”

The government document shows the existing wording of some sections of the law crossed out, with the proposed text of the changes underneath for First Nations leaders to review.

The “Purpose of the Act” section, as currently written in the law, says it is “to affirm the application of the Declaration to the laws of British Columbia.”

The proposed change for that section change instead says the government will “provide for the ongoing processes of the government working, in consultation and co-operation with the Indigenous peoples in British Columbia, towards aligning enactments with the declaration.”

The document also shows the provincial government is looking to replace a clause that says the government “must take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of British Columbia are consistent with the Declaration,” and instead says the provincial government will work toward aligning specific laws “identified as priorities.”

It continues that the province “may prepare a new action plan” for implementing DRIPA “at any time.”

First Nations have said they do not support any changes to the legislation, while some B.C. Conservative MLAs have called for the law to be scrapped altogether.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, which advocates on behalf of more than 100 First Nations in the province, passed a resolution in February calling on the government to publicly commit to keeping the law as is currently written.

The Law Society of British Columbia has decried Eby’s intent to change the legislation in response to court rulings. In a statement released in February, the group said “politicians must take great care when commenting on judicial decisions and must avoid asserting or implying that courts are not properly playing their role.” Doing so, the group said, decreases confidence in the justice system.

“The Law Society urges the B.C. government to reconsider making any proposed legislative changes that would limit access to independent courts,” their statement reads.

—With files from Wolfgang Depner in Victoria and Chuck Chiang in Vancouver

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

Several Pride organizations are asking the federal government to set up a fund they say will help the festivals continue to pay performing artists without letting their budgets get into the red.

Pride Toronto, Fierté Montréal and Vancouver Pride were in Ottawa to make the call, outlining an ask for $9 million spread out over three years, with $3 million provided annually.

“Government support for Pride strengthens Canadian image as an inclusive and welcoming country, positioning Canada as the leading destination for 2SLGBTQ+ tourism,” said Kojo Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto.

The festivals’ representatives told reporters they currently receive about $1.5 million from the federal government for security funding. But this money is divided across festivals across the country and is focused on duty officers, private security and other tools to ensure safety.

The funding being asked for on Tuesday is separate, focused on rising infrastructure costs, bringing in talent and the pullback of corporate sponsors. The funding would be divided among approximately 200 Pride festivals from coast to coast.

“We are seeing our budgets are not stable, our funding are not stable,” said Callie Metler, executive director of Fierte Capital Pride in Ottawa. “So this is really just allowing us to focus on making sure we can continue to welcome a growing audience while not sacrificing things like paying artists and continuing to make sure those budget lines continue to stay where they’re at.”

Several Pride festivals have seen budget shortfalls in recent years, some coming close to $1 million due to sponsors pulling out of the festivals. Prior to its 2025 parade, Pride Toronto sounded the alarm over a $900,000 shortfall after sponsors like Google, Nissan and Clorox pulled their support.

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In Vancouver, the festival lost nearly half its sponsors in addition to some provincial and federal funding.

2:12
Google, Home Depot pull sponsorship from Pride Toronto weeks before festival

“With the state of the economy, the DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] rollbacks and the tariffs, we are noticing our corporate sponsors are coming to the table but it’s not at the same place they have been,” said Joseph Hoang, executive director of Vancouver Pride.

It was a similar case in Halifax last year. Halifax Pride said in a statement online that some longtime sponsors and past parade participants were no longer involved by the festival’s own choice and others stepped back for “reasons we weren’t told.”

Hoang told reporters on Tuesday that rising costs for operating the festivals and the funding needed for security, infrastructure and accessibility are causing a strain on organizers.

“Without the capacity or stable funding to absorb these costs, organizations are approaching a breaking point, forcing some significantly to rethink what Pride can look like moving forward,” Hoang said.

2:06
Changes coming to 2025 Vancouver Pride Parade

Modeste said investments in Pride festivals can also help local businesses, stressing that in the case of Pride Toronto, he’s heard from businesses in the area of Church and Wellesley streets receiving more than 50 per cent of their annual income during the festival. The majority of the festival events take place along these streets in Toronto.

It’s not just large-scale Pride festivals that would benefit from the funding, with Fierté Timmins noting they don’t get corporate sponsorships.

Julie Nobert-Demarchi said funding would help the festival, which also provides social supports to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, continue to help those who need it.

“Small Prides are made up of groups of volunteers that are putting their time and effort to creating a space of belonging for individuals,” she said. “We often see that that space is the first space that somebody ever feels safe in.”

Global News has reached out to the federal government for a response to the festivals’ request.

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Montreal Metropolitan Airport says its new terminal will open in a few months as it gets ready to welcome commercial flights.

The airport said Tuesday that its new terminal will open on June 15, and that the start of commercial flights at the regional airport will be a “major advantage” for passengers.

“Once open the terminal will the host operations of Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation, offering flights connecting Canadian destinations from coast to coast. The terminal will also be able to welcome additional carriers in the future,” it said in a news release.

“Many major cities around the world already rely on a network of complementary airports to meet the air travel needs of residents and visitors. Montreal now joins this list with the new terminal at MET which aims to become the airport of choice for direct flights operated exclusively using quieter, more fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft.”

The terminal itself is designed, built and operated by YHU Infrastructure Partners. It covers 21,000 square metres and features nine boarding bridges and a waiting lounge with 900 seats.

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Its retail lineup will be entirely Quebec-based and will include a Bâton Rouge restaurant, a Café Dépôt and a convenience and travel goods store.

The terminal also incorporates contemporary nods to the historic visit of the R-100 airship in 1930, when its arrival in Saint-Hubert drew massive crowds and symbolized the technological daring of the era, the release states.

Opened in 1927, Saint-Hubert Airport — now MET (Montreal Metropolitan Airport) — is Canada’s oldest airport and served as Montreal’s main airport for many years.

Commercial flights were moved to Dorval in 1940 so the airport could be fully dedicated to the Second World War effort, the release added.

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