Politics and play: the many levels of supporting sports in Ontario
The role of governments, university administrators, and students in facilitating engagement in sports.
Sports and politics go together like bleach and vinegar – mixing them inflicts irritation, nausea, and misery upon anyone unfortunate enough to get caught up in the resultant stench. Nevertheless, when it comes to funding and facilitating sports, the overlap between sports and politics is inescapable.
Whether it’s building arenas, providing subsidies, or spreading awareness about the importance of physical activity, governments play an invaluable role in ensuring that sports are available, accessible, and financially viable. Even so, political support for sports and recreation isn’t always par for the course.
Amid a trade war with the United States, Doug Ford’s re-election as Premier of Ontario, and student government shakeups at all three University of Toronto (U of T) campuses, sports and recreation across the province could be in for big changes.
Governments’ plans to support sports in Ontario
As a part of their plan to “Build to Keep Workers on the Job,” the Progressive Conservatives (PCs) promise to increase the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure fund by $300 million. Introduced in last year’s budget, the Fund will make $500 million available to municipalities to construct sports venues, community centres, and facilitate recreation for seniors if implemented.
In Toronto, city council set aside just under $600 million for parks and recreation in their 2025 budget, implemented on February 11. However, the City currently has no comprehensive plan to manage potential economic impacts from the Canada-U.S. trade war, so it’s unclear whether or how their budget will change.
The City of Mississauga is set to spend over $45 million on recreation and culture. Most notably, this spending covers renovations to the Huron Park and River Grove Community Centres.
The state of sports funding at U of T
At U of T, programs for sports and physical activity fall under the purview of Sport & Rec, a division of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (FKPE).
According to their latest Budget Report, U of T plans to spend about $16.7 million on FKPE over the 2024-25 fiscal year. Expenditure on FKPE is on the low end, compared to other faculties and divisions like Music ($21.1 million), Information ($23.1 million), and Public Health ($30.7 million). The highest funded faculty at U of T, Arts & Science, is slated to cost the university about $640 million.
But the relatively low funding for sports and recreation hasn’t stopped students and staff from developing a robust athletic community. Just last year, the U of T Women’s Flag Football Team (UTWFF) became the latest team to get Varsity status after a decade of fighting for recognition from Sport & Rec.
Ensuring that sports at U of T expand and are available, affordable, and popular among students depends on continued funding from the government and university administration. But participation in sports might also benefit from a push from the student body.
Going the whole nine yards
While more funding for athletics and wellness can help encourage students to play sports at school, it should be accompanied by genuine interest in university sports among students.
As the spring elections for the Students’ Unions at the Mississauga, Scarborough, and St. George campuses come to a close, now might be an opportune moment for the Unions to ramp up promotional material for sports at U of T. They can also lobby university administrators to increase their support for sports programs.
Other student groups can also play a role by acting as mediums for engagement with sports. UTWFF started out as a regular U of T club, and it eventually achieved recognition from Sport & Rec thanks to the perseverance, teamwork, and skills of its members.
For U of T’s growing sports scene, ensuring that seasoned and aspiring student athletes alike have access to coaches, health professionals, supportive teams, and adequate facilities is an absolute must. Amid political uncertainty, support from all levels of government, U of T administrators, and students will have to be extensive and steadfast in their commitment to fostering a community for sports.
