VANCOUVER– On the day that Canada is poised to win its first gold in Women’s Bobsled and Clara Hughes skates to defend her Olympic title, the Harper Conservatives announced they are walking away from the Own the Podium program, cutting $11 million dollars in funding to our Olympic athletes.

“This is the wrong message at the wrong time,” said New Democrat Olympics Critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster). “While we might want to re-examine how we fund our athletes, making such a clear-cut announcement in the middle of the games is shocking and disrespectful.”

Yesterday, Secretary of State for Sports Gary Lunn said that the upcoming Conservative budget would provide no new funding for the Own the Podium program, which was set up to support Canada’s elite athletes.

“The last thing our Olympians need to hear right now is that their government is giving up on them,” said Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury), New Democrat Critic for Sport. “Our athletes are inspiring a country right now. After the Olympics, I look forward to a debate about how we can ride this wave, promote healthy living and provide more funding for children’s athletic programs and amateur sport.”