Question Period Note: Violence in sport

The Government of Canada continues to assume a leadership role to ensure safety and security for all participants in sport.

· Harmful and intentional physical acts of violence have no place in sport.
· It is imperative that sport organizations have prevention measures in place, specifically addressing the rules of the game, training methods and behaviours.
· The safety and security of athletes, coaches and officials is a top priority for the Government of Canada. Our government will continue to work with the sport community and provincial and territorial governments to address these issues.

· From 2013 to 2016, Sport Canada co-chaired a Safety in Combative Sport Working Group with the government of Quebec, with a view to prepare recommendations for Pan-Canadian standards in combative sports.
· In 2016, Ministers responsible for sport, physical activity, and recreation approved: 1) the creation of a Committee of Canadian Athletic Sport Commissions to facilitate communication and cooperation; 2) the implementation of pan-Canadian standards and the supervision of professional combat sports in each province and territory. They also endorsed the proposed amendments to section 83 of the Criminal Code relating to Prize Fights.
· Recent case law related to violence in sport has indicated that sport is no longer immune from legal actions and criminal ruling.
· On June 3, 2019, the Standing Committee on Health tabled the 24th Report on the Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada’s study entitled Tackling the Problem Head-on: Sports-Related Concussions in Canada, in the House of Commons.
· Recommendation 13 of the Subcommittee’s report asks that the Government of Canada work with the sport community on the prevention of concussions.
· The federal Budget 2019 provided $30 million over five years to enable Canadian sport organizations to promote safety and integrity in sport, including the prevention and management of concussions.
· In February 2023, Ministers responsible for sport, physical activity and recreation discussed the need to focus on health and well-being of all athletes and participants. Ministers also discussed the pressing need for culture change in hockey and Quebec shared its progress on eliminating fighting in junior hockey as a way to address violence in sport and ensure a safe sport experience.
· In August 2023, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced that it has banned fighting in its league.

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