Opinion: Affordability Is an election issue. Access to sport must be part of the conversation

Affordability is at the forefront of B.C.’s provincial and municipal elections. Families are asking what governments will do about rising costs and pressures on household budgets. That discussion must include whether parents can afford to keep their children involved in sports and whether communities have the facilities families depend on.

Sport B.C. is calling on candidates and political parties to make specific commitments to affordable participation, sustainable funding for community sport and investment in local recreation infrastructure. Expressions of support are welcome, but families and sport organizations need concrete action.

There are practical ways forward. The next provincial government should invest more in core sport funding, addressing the $5 million-a-year gap that has resulted from 15 years of stagnant funding and persistent inflation. Predictable support helps organizations plan, sustain programs and keep participation affordable.

Both provincial and municipal leaders should prioritize funding for community sport and recreation infrastructure now, so they do not miss the opportunity to partner with the federal government and leverage the billions of dollars it has put on the table through the Building Canada Strong Fund. That means renewing aging facilities and expanding capacity in growing communities.

The province should establish a dedicated sport and recreation envelope within community gaming grants to ensure the intended community benefits materialize through safe, affordable and accessible sport. Municipal governments should increase investment in local facilities and review rental, permitting and event fees that ultimately make participation more expensive for families.

For parents, affordability is not an abstract policy debate. It is a conversation around the kitchen table about registration fees, equipment, travel, and the expenses that add up over a season. When local facilities are full, aging or unavailable, families face longer drives, inconvenient schedules and additional costs.

These pressures force difficult choices. Some children participate in fewer activities — others miss out entirely. And when they do, they lose more than a game or a season. They lose opportunities to build confidence, friendships, resilience and a sense of belonging.

Sport contributes to physical and mental health. It gives young people positive places to spend time, supportive coaches and mentors, and opportunities to learn teamwork and leadership. Local clubs, officials and volunteers bring neighbours together across generations and backgrounds, helping build connected, inclusive communities.

There is an economic dimension, too. Sports support jobs, tournaments, tourism and local businesses. Pools, fields, arenas and recreation centres are not simply amenities. They are community assets that improve quality of life and make neighbourhoods attractive places to live and work.

Yet the systems that make these benefits possible have not kept pace with demand, inflation, or the need to maintain and expand facilities. Without deliberate investment, access to sports risks becoming increasingly dependent on a family’s income or postal code.

These proposals are not about funding sport for sport’s sake. They recognize that affordability includes access to activities and shared spaces that keep families healthy, active and connected. Investment in sport can advance public health, inclusion, community well-being, and local economic opportunity at the same time.

As voters consider election promises, candidates should be ready to answer clear questions: How will you make sport more affordable? How will you support the organizations delivering it? And how will you ensure families have facilities close to home?

Affordability should not mean only managing the cost of necessities. It should also mean preserving opportunities for children and families to participate fully in community life. This election, sport deserves a place in that conversation, and commitments that extend beyond election day.

Rob Newman is the president and CEO of Sport B.C.