Question Period Note: Government of Canada response to maltreatment allegations within Gymnastics in Canada and calls for an independent judicial inquiry.

The Government of Canada is taking steps to ensure more rigorous accountability within Gymnastics Canada following allegations of maltreatment at various levels of the sport in Canada. During the appearance of Gymnasts for Change Canada at the Standing Committee on the Status of Women on November 21, 2022, the representatives of this group requested that the federal government undertake an independent judicial inquiry into maltreatment in sport.

• The stories that are being shared by gymnasts around the world, including here in Canada at the local, provincial or national level, are heartbreaking, disturbing, and simply unacceptable.

• The creation of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner is challenging the culture of silence and will help provide a reliable mechanism to report abuse and maltreatment.

• All National Sport Organizations must now be signatory to its services. It is a first step in the right direction for victims to be heard and supported.

• On March 28, 2022, Gymnasts for Change Canada published an open letter calling for an independent, third-party investigation into the culture of Gymnastics Canada. Subsequently, in July 2022, they reiterated this need to the then Minister of Sport.
• On June 28, 2022, Gymnastics Canada announced that McLaren Global Sport Solutions would lead a culture review of the organization and provide recommendations.
• On July 22, 2022, the then Minister of Sport suspended funding to Gymnastics Canada until it became a signatory to the Abuse-Free Sport program, including the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, which it did on October 19, 2022.
• In addition, new conditions were added to their contribution agreement, which included enhanced monitoring from Sport Canada.
• On January 25, 2023, Gymnastics Canada released “A Framework for Change: How to Achieve a Culture Shift for Gymnastics in Canada”, an independent review done by the McLaren Global Sport Solutions. The report provides a comprehensive review of Gymnastic Canada’s Safe Sport efforts and related policies as well as recommendations.
• On January 27, 2023, three prominent Olympic gymnastics athletes requested that Gymnastics Canada Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ian Moss and Board President Jeffery Thomson be removed from their positions.
• On February 3, 2023, Board President Jeffery Thomson resigned. Bernard Petiot was announced as interim Chair.
• On February 23, 2023, Ian Moss resigned from his position as CEO. Kacey Neely subsequently joined the organization as Safe Sport Director, bringing a Ph.D. in Sports Psychology and extensive experience in athlete wellbeing and positive youth development.

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