The Athlete Assistance Program (or carding program) is a program where the Government of Canada (through Sport Canada) provides funding assistance to elite level Canadian athletes.
Athletes are nominated by their National Sports Organization.
Monthly funding is provided directly to the athletes and the tuition at a post secondary institution is also paid for.
The funding (in 2006 either $900 or $1500 per month) is not intended to cover living expenses, but only to cover some of the additional expenses that elite athletes have for training and competing.
This article related to sport in Canada is a stub.