Question Period Note: Creation of Sport Canada Athlete Advisory Committee

On June 12, 2022, the Government of Canada provided an update and announced action on safety in sport, including the creation of a Sport Canada Athlete Advisory Committee. This committee will increase athlete representation in policy and program development and will provide Sport Canada with advice and guidance consistent with the lived experience of athletes in Canada.

• The Government of Canada remains committed to promoting an environment where all Canadians can safely engage in sport, regardless of age, ability, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.
• We have announced that Sport Canada will implement new measures to increase accountability and reporting, and to improve the governance of sport organizations. As part of these new measures, we will be creating a committee of athletes so that Sport Canada obtains advice and guidance that reflects the realities of athletes in Canada.
• The responsibility to ensure safety in sport must be shared by all organizations in the sport sector. We will continue to work together to ensure that we collectively create a safe environment for all Canadians.

• Budget 2019 provided $30 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, with $6 million per year ongoing, to enable Canadian sport organizations to promote accessible, ethical, equitable and safe sports.
• On June 19, 2018, the following measures were announced to enhance the existing policy framework in these areas: Federally funded sport organizations must: 1-Take all necessary measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse or discrimination of any kind; 2-Immediately disclose any incident that could compromise the project or programming to the Minister responsible for sport; 3-Make provisions for access to an independent third party to address harassment and abuse cases; 4-Provide mandatory training on harassment and abuse to their members by April 1, 2020.
• On June 12, 2022, the Government of Canada provided an update and announced action on safety in sport to build on the Government of Canada’s significant actions and investments over the past few years to create a safer sport environment. The new measures cover the following areas:

Sport Canada Athlete Advisory Committee
• This committee will be created 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.
Accountability, Reporting and Governance
• Effective April 1, 2023, Sport Canada will make changes to contribution agreements with organizations that meet the new eligibility requirements of the Sport Funding Framework. The objective is to ensure that sport organizations receiving federal funding meet specific governance, accountability, and safe sport standards. Over the next few months, Sport Canada will be working to develop new requirements and standards to achieve this objective.
Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner
• The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner was created to provide the sport system and athletes with a safe and reliable channel for complaints.
• The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner 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, a formula that ensures the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner’s independence and instills confidence in all those who use its services.
• Budget 2022 proposed an investment of $16 million over three years to support the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner.
Canadian Sport Policy
• Work is underway 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. It is based on current data and consultations with interested stakeholders around various themes (including diversity, equity and inclusion).
Working with the Provinces and Territories
• At this summer’s federal-provincial-territorial sport ministers’ conference in Niagara, Ontario, the Minister will continue to work with her provincial and territorial counterparts in sport to promote pan-Canadian cohesion on safe sport.

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