The Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, Carla Qualtrough, announced on Tuesday that the government will launch a formal, independent mechanism to review systemic abuse and human rights violations in Canadian sports. The announcement comes amid growing calls for a public inquiry from athletes, coaches, and MPs who have exposed the problem of maltreatment in the sport system.
A Trauma-Informed, Human Rights-Based Approach
Qualtrough said that the process will be trauma-informed, human rights-based, and forward-looking. She said that the government is committed to ensuring that every athlete in Canada can participate in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive sport environment. She also said that the government will take immediate actions to address the issues that abuse survivors have raised and underscored at parliamentary committees.
The minister did not reveal the details of the independent mechanism, but said that it will be announced early next week. She said that the government will work with stakeholders, experts, and survivors to design and implement the mechanism.
A Long-Standing Issue in Canadian Sports
The issue of abuse and maltreatment in Canadian sports has been a long-standing one, but it gained more attention in recent years after several high-profile cases of sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and discrimination came to light. Elite athletes in multiple sports have accused the federal government of failing to act in response to the problem. They have also demanded a public inquiry into the matter, saying that the current system is not adequate to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable.
Some of the cases that have sparked outrage and concern include:
- The conviction of former national ski coach Bertrand Charest for sexually assaulting young female athletes in the 1990s.
- The allegations of sexual abuse and harassment against former national gymnastics coach Dave Brubaker, who was acquitted in 2019.
- The lawsuit filed by former national team speedskaters against Speed Skating Canada and its former head coach Michael Crowe, alleging sexual harassment, abuse of power, and negligence.
- The resignation of former national women’s soccer coach John Herdman amid allegations of psychological abuse and harassment from players.
- The suspension of former national canoe coach Scott Oldershaw for making inappropriate comments to female athletes.
Previous and Ongoing Actions by the Government
The government has taken some actions and investments over the past few years to address the issue of abuse and maltreatment in Canadian sports. Some of these include:
- Creating the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) in 2022 to provide the sport system and athletes with a safe and reliable channel for complaints. OSIC is mandated to receive, investigate, and adjudicate complaints from members of national sport organizations under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). Budget 2022 proposed an investment of $16 million over three years to support OSIC.
- Establishing the Sport Canada Athlete Advisory Committee in 2023 to increase athlete representation in the sport system and to allow Sport Canada to obtain advice and guidance consistent with the lived experience of athletes in Canada.
- Working to renew the Canadian Sport Policy to reflect the diverse perspectives of the Canadian public. A consultation will be conducted specifically on the issue of safety in sport to ensure that the new version of the policy contributes to a change in sport culture. The Canadian Sport Policy will serve as a roadmap to guide progress over the next 10 years (2023–2033) towards the desired state of Canadian sport.
- Collaborating with the provinces and territories in sport to promote pan-Canadian cohesion on safe sport. Qualtrough said that she will continue to work with her provincial and territorial counterparts in sport at this summer’s federal-provincial-territorial sport ministers’ conference in Niagara, Ontario.
Qualtrough said that the government recognizes that there is still more work to be done to address the issue of abuse and maltreatment in Canadian sports. She said that the government is determined to take action and to listen to the voices of survivors and advocates.
