Gary Lunn appointed as Minister of State for Sport

Hi all,

Good news folks - the Prime Minister has just appointed Gary Lunn as Minister of State for Sport. This will bring together the various sporting elements (including Vancouver 2010) under one Minister with a seat at the cabinet table. It is also notable that Minister Lunn has been appointed to the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and to the Treasury Board.

Minister Lunn resides in Sidney, BC (just outside Victoria) and his riding (Saanich-Gulf Islands) is home to the new Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence. You'll be safe if you hit the slopes with the Minister as he's a former member of the Canadian Ski Patrol. Please take the time to write to the Minister and congratulate him on his new leadership role.

There are a number of other promising appointments:

• Our new Health Minister is Leona Aglukkaq from Nunavut. This bodes well for health promotion efforts in northern communities and in preventative health strategies - like physical activity - about which the Minister has previous experience as a Territorial politician.


• The 2015 bid for the Pan American Games will be pleased to have Minister John Baird in charge of the communities and infrastructure file - strong Ontario and Queens Park ties ought to help.


• Former Secretary of State for Sport, Helena Guergis, is now the Minister for the Status of Women which may create some opportunities for linkages to the new women in sport policy and to the efforts of the CAAWS network.


• We've always been impressed with James Moore who is the newly minted Minister of Canadian Heritage, the department where Sport Canada resides.


• Also pleased to see that some are continuing on, including Minister Oda at International Cooperation for those involved in international sport for development and Minister Chuck Strahl at Indian Affairs and Northern Development (new investors in sport projects!)


• All around good guy and sport leader from Aquatics, Denis Lebel, has been appointed to cabinet for the first time as Minister of State for Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec.


• And props to Rob Merrifield for making it in this time around (Minister of State for Transport). Minister Merrifield did yeoman's duty for sport as chair of the Standing Committee on Finance during the last budget cycle.

All for now,
Ian

Senior Leader

________

Bonjour à tous,


Le Ministre Lunn a présenté, aujourd’hui, une manière pour nous tous de regarder l’avenir ensemble - «Vers 2010 et après» (voir le document ci-joint). C’est un bon projet, je pense, et quelque chose qui peut rallier notre système sportif vers une nouvelle vision renouvelée après 2010.


Quelques idées:
- nous voudrons appuyer la procédure de comité (voir le communiqué de presse du GSI ci-joint – merci pour la réponse rapide en juillet) et aussi nous assurer que l’action suit les délibérations (plus tôt et non plus tard)
- cela signifie que nous avons du travail à faire cet été et cet automne pour rassembler nos meilleures idées
- plus que jamais, nos efforts de réforme et notre intérêt pour de nouvelles manières – de meilleures manières – de faire les choses seront importants
- certains d’entre vous ont probablement des documents et des stratégies actuels (ou vieux) qui doivent être ressortis et mis à jour
- David Zussman est une bonne voix dynamique pour présider le groupe. Il est très bien perçu à Ottawa et extrêmement bien lu dans les stratégies de gouvernance. Il aura besoin de nos meilleures idées dans l’aspect sportif du grand livre.
- en fait, il me semble que le comité aura besoin d’entendre les experts et les meneurs actuels dans le secteur (et à l’extérieur du secteur?)


Une question:
- Est-ce que tout le monde a une copie du discours que George Heller a prononcé à la Conférence sur le leadership sportif à Halifax?


Quelques défis:
- nous aurons besoin de plans pour des imprévus au cas où il y aurait une élection cet automne
- nous voudrons travailler sur un ordre du jour pour notre prochaine réunion le 8 septembre à Ottawa pour tenir compte de cette procédure (RSVP à info@sportmatters.ca)


En attendant, je pars pour la Baie Géorgienne pour la fin de semaine. Disponible par cellulaire lundi et de retour au bureau mardi.


Excellent travail tout le monde!


Meilleurs voeux,
Ian

Gary Lunn appointed as Minister of State for Sport

Hi all,

Good news folks - the Prime Minister has just appointed Gary Lunn as Minister of State for Sport. This will bring together the various sporting elements (including Vancouver 2010) under one Minister with a seat at the cabinet table. It is also notable that Minister Lunn has been appointed to the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and to the Treasury Board.

Minister Lunn resides in Sidney, BC (just outside Victoria) and his riding (Saanich-Gulf Islands) is home to the new Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence. You'll be safe if you hit the slopes with the Minister as he's a former member of the Canadian Ski Patrol. Please take the time to write to the Minister and congratulate him on his new leadership role.

There are a number of other promising appointments:

• Our new Health Minister is Leona Aglukkaq from Nunavut. This bodes well for health promotion efforts in northern communities and in preventative health strategies - like physical activity - about which the Minister has previous experience as a Territorial politician.
• The 2015 bid for the Pan American Games will be pleased to have Minister John Baird in charge of the communities and infrastructure file - strong Ontario and Queens Park ties ought to help.
• Former Secretary of State for Sport, Helena Guergis, is now the Minister for the Status of Women which may create some opportunities for linkages to the new women in sport policy and to the efforts of the CAAWS network.
• We've always been impressed with James Moore who is the newly minted Minister of Canadian Heritage, the department where Sport Canada resides.
• Also pleased to see that some are continuing on, including Minister Oda at International Cooperation for those involved in international sport for development and Minister Chuck Strahl at Indian Affairs and Northern Development (new investors in sport projects!)
• All around good guy and sport leader from Aquatics, Denis Lebel, has been appointed to cabinet for the first time as Minister of State for Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec.
• And props to Rob Merrifield for making it in this time around (Minister of State for Transport). Minister Merrifield did yeoman's duty for sport as chair of the Standing Committee on Finance during the last budget cycle.

All for now,
Ian

Senior Leader

Mes réflexions

J’ai apporté matière à réflexion dans le prochain numéro de Plan du Coach en révélant des chiffres à propos des distances parcourues par les divers partis politiques depuis l’élection de 2000! Si vous avez besoin d’une autre dose de « politico-sport », lire ici.

Reflections on political parties

I put some thoughts down for the new version of Coaches Plan about the distance travelled by political parties since the 2000 election. So if you need another dose of politico-sport, read here.

Ian

Thanks for giving.

It's nearly the end of the 'power of sport' campaign and, surely, I believe.
I believe in the power of sport to show how democracy works in Canada and how the so-called democratic deficit is a myth in our sector. Something like sport, that reaches into the corners of our communities and into the middle of dinner table conversations, has that quality in Canada. During this campaign we've seen how sport's pervasiveness - the millions of volunteers, tens of thousands of facilities and parks, countless organizations of all sizes - is driven by its enthusiasts, but not just on the playing fields and pools and rinks and hills. But also, this time, on the doorsteps in conversation with those seeking your vote, at all candidates meetings in local gyms, within letters written near midnight, and throughout the web networks that sport uses to stay connected.
Over 8000 people have said that sport matters in this campaign. What a gift that is for Canada.
So, thanks.
Enjoy your weekend. And be sure to vote.