Sports clubs and organisations in Canada have been encouraged to apply for the fund before the deadline of March 29.

A maximum CAD$10,000 (£5,600/$7,900/€6,500) available to applicants, lower than the CAD$15,000 (£8,500/$11,800/€9,700) ceiling last year.

The CPC said a limited number of grants would be available as part of the scheme, which distributed CAD$60,000 (£33,800/$47,000/€39,000) to clubs and organisations across the country in the 2020-2021 cycle.

Funds can be used to support the creation of a new programme, or the expansion of an existing successful initiative, the CPC said.

Changes to the programme are likely to have been caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit sport hard financially.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our sport community at all levels, putting programming on hold and requiring us all to adapt," said CPC chief executive Karen O’Neill.

"Sport at the local, regional, and provincial levels are so important for a sustainable sport development system. 

"The great work of the organisations in these spaces will be even more important as the pandemic nears an end in ensuring there are opportunities for people with a disability to access sport and develop as an athlete. 

"We hope support from the fund will help programming continue to run successfully in the future."