OUA/OCAA "ELITE" ISSUE IMPACT ON 2022/2023 SPORTS
The issue:
In June 14, 2021 the Ontario Government announced its Return-to-play frameork for professional and elite amateur sport leagues and events. The OUA and OCAA were not included on the list of "elite amateur sport leagues".
The impact:
On the same day, the OUA announced its Path to Return to Sport, a path forged with no independent input from student-athletes, and which did not address the excluion from the list of "elite amateur sport leagues".
The Canadian Student-Athlete Association was the first organization to respond, writing a letter to the Minister responsible for Sport in Ontario, Lisa MacLeod.
Fast forward to December 17, 2021. The OUA announces it is "pausing" sport until January 24th, the OCAA until January 21st.
January 3, 2022, the Ontario Government announces a tightening of restrictions, until January 26th, which includes a ban on training for those organizations not deemed "elite" including the OUA/OCAA. The announcement throws the OUA into disarray as it means competition scheduled by the OUA to return January 24th, and competition scheduled by the OCAA to return January 21st...cannot.
Again, the Canadian Student-Athlete Association is the first organization to respond, writing a letter to the Minister responsible for Sport in Ontario, Lisa MacLeod.
The Canadian Student-Athlete Association launches a petition urging the Ontario Government to designate OUA/OCAA student-athletes as "elite" - it garners over 7,500 signatures.
January 20, 2022, the Ontario Government announces it is extending restrictions which were to end January 26th, until January 31st, causing further disarray at the OUA and OCAA.
January 21, 2022, the OUA announces (even though it has already been announced by the Ontario Government) a return to training on Jan. 31st, and a return to competition on February 9th.
The Canadian Student-Athlete Association responds to the Jan. 21, 2022 OUA announcement with tough questions regarding how this issue got .
to this point.