Question Period Note: Concussions in sport

The Canadian sport system has been under the spotlight to address this public health issue. The Standing Committee on Health’s (HESA) 24th Report on the Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada’s study, entitled “Tackling the Problem Head-on: Sports-Related Concussions in Canada” was initially tabled on June 3, 2019, in the House of Commons and could soon be re-submitted. The report contains 13 recommendations to support ongoing actions by the Federal government in this area.

• Concussions in sport are a serious public health issue because of their frequency and potential for consequences on brain health.
• We know there is more that can be done to prevent concussions in sport.
• We will continue to work with partners, including provincial-territorial jurisdictions, to increase the awareness, prevention and management of concussions.

• The Government of Canada is dedicated to ensure a safe and ethical sport environment for all Canadians. The prevention of concussions is a complex issue requiring the involvement of many sport and non-sport stakeholders and a multi-faceted approach.
• On December 13, 2019, the Prime Minister issued a mandate letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage which included the commitment to “work with the Minister of Health to implement the pan-Canadian Concussion Strategy and raise awareness for parents, coaches and athletes on concussion treatment’’.
• The federal, provincial and territorial (F-P/T) Working Group on Concussions in Sport (WGCS) is comprised of F-P/T government representatives, non-governmental sport organizations, health, medical and education experts, as well as members of the Canadian Concussion Collaborative.
• On July 28, 2017, Parachute released the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport (Canadian Guideline) for application in the Canadian context. The Canadian Guideline is based on the Fifth International Concensus Statement on Concussion in Sport published in April 2017.
• Following release of the Canadian Guideline, return-to-learn and return-to-play protocols have been developed at the national level. By March 31, 2021, federally funded recipients are required to have a policy on concussion that covers the areas of awareness, prevention, detection, surveillance, and management. In addition, each organization must have a specific return-to-sport protocol compliant with the latest Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport.
• On July 28, 2017, the WGCS also released the Framework for Action, as approved by F-P/T Ministers, which details principles and recommendations to address the five components of the harmonized approach on concussions: awareness, prevention, detection, management and surveillance.
• On February 15, 2019, in Red Deer, Alberta, the Federal-Provincial/Territorial (F-P/T) Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation (SPAR) Ministers committed to additional actions to mitigate concussions and build on initiatives that increase the awareness, prevention and management of concussions.
• As a next step, the WGCS will monitor the implementation of the Framework for Action and the 2019 Red Deer areas of action. A report on the progress will be tabled at the F-P/T SPAR Minister’s conference in 2021.
• A national awareness campaign (We are headstrong), a return-to-learn generic protocol and a course for health practitioners were launched at a workshop with the national sport organizations on June 8, 2018, at the Museum of Nature, in Ottawa.
• Each PT jurisdiction has committed to host an annual awareness day on the prevention of concussions in sport, starting in, or before, September 2021.
• The Standing Committee on Health’s (HESA) 24th Report on the Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada’s study, entitled “Tackling the Problem Head-on: Sports-Related Concussions in Canada” was initially tabled on June 3, 2019, in the House of Commons. The report contains 13 recommendations.
• The recommendations are that the government of Canada keep taking action in the areas of awareness, prevention, detection, management and surveillance.

None