Pascale St-Onge, left, was appointed to the Cabinet of Canadian President Justin Trudeau, centre ©Getty Images

The Canadian Olympic (COC) and Paralympic (CPC) Committees have congratulated Pascale St-Onge on her appointment as the Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Québec.

St-Onge was the only new Member of Parliament selected to join Canadian President Justin Trudeau's Cabinet.

Elected in the Québec riding of Brome, St-Onge previously worked as a union leader in Québec's cultural sector and was President of the National Federation of Communications and Culture.

In a joint statement, the COC and CPC congratulated St-Onge and said they are looking forward to working with her in developing sport.

"The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee would like to congratulate Pascale St-Onge on being named Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec," it read.

"Sport is an essential tool to build stronger, healthier communities. 

The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees said they are looking forward to working with St-Onge ©Getty Images
The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees said they are looking forward to working with St-Onge ©Getty Images

"Children with access to sport do better in school, are more confident, and healthier, while those that choose to pursue high-performance sport are ambassadors for the values Canadians hold dear."

The statement added the 2021 budget outlined by Trudeau's Government displays a "priority to invest in sport" and that a dedicated Minister for Sport "provides vital leadership to deliver this commitment and will empower the role sport can play for all Canadians, including in pandemic recovery."

The COC and CPC also thanked Minister Steven Guilbeault for his work preceding St-Onge in tandem with the sports community.

The statement concluded: "We look forward to working with Minister St-Onge and the Government of Canada to continue this work and transform Canada through the power of sport."