Former Federal Sports Secretary Kirsty Duncan reiterates call for safe sports research

OTTAWA –

Liberal MP Kirsty Duncan has again called for an inquiry into Canada’s safe sports crisis.

Speaking before the Permanent Commission on Canadian Heritage on Thursday, Duncan made seven recommendations about the scope of a possible investigation. She was the key witness in the latest session of a year-long parliamentary inquiry into toxic and abusive culture in elite sport.

“Now is the time for a national public inquiry,” said Duncan, who served as Secretary of Science and Sports from 2015 to 2019. “If Canada gets it right, we can better protect our athletes. We can also be a catalyst for a much-anticipated global conversation about athlete health, safety and wellbeing.”

Sport Canada is overseen by the Federal Department of Heritage.

Parliamentary hearings began last year following media reports that Hockey Canada paid a substantial legal settlement after eight members of the 2018 men’s junior team allegedly sexually assaulted a woman.

Hockey Canada and other national sports organizations, including Gymnastics Canada, Boxing Canada and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, have experienced significant leadership turnover over the past year due to toxic and abusive cultures.

Duncan argued on Thursday that the government should have an independent, comprehensive inquiry focused on the health, safety and welfare of athletes. She said the investigation should be informed of the trauma and survivors should be given full ability to speak clearly.

Her third recommendation was that the study should examine the spoken and unspoken rules of each sport and also examine the power differentials that exist at an organizational and personal level.

Duncan’s next recommendation was to investigate Sport Canada’s safe sports measures and compliance tools. In a similar vein, her fifth recommendation was that the inquiry examine the governance, accountability and finances of all NSOs, as well as how sports leaders circulate between different organizations.

Her sixth recommendation was that the study review data on all forms of abuse in sports on a sport-by-sport basis.

“My final and most important recommendation is that a thorough investigation be conducted into whether abuse cases have been effectively resolved, whether perpetrators have been removed from the system or whether there were passive facilitators protecting the sport and the organization over protecting young people. people.” she said.

Duncan announced on January 26 that she would be taking medical leave but would remain an MP for Etobicoke North, an equestrian center in Toronto’s western end. She called for an investigation into Canada’s safe sports crisis the following day.

Kevin Waugh, vice chair of the Heritage Committee, said Thursday that Duncan needed a lot of courage to testify in person rather than via video conference. Duncan, who wore a purple headscarf during her testimony, addressed people with cancer at the end of her opening speech.

“Know that you are not alone and that I am beside you,” she said. “I am grateful for the life-saving medicine, science, and compassionate and excellent care provided by our healthcare providers.”

Don Adams, CEO of Sail Canada, and Wendy Smith, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gymnastics Canada, also testified on Thursday. Gymnastics Canada currently has no CEO.

Several members of the committee noted that Gymnastics Canada has received the most complaints of any of Canada’s national sports organizations. Waugh told Smith that while she’s new to the role, she should be better prepared for her next appearance on the committee.

“I think it’s fair to say we’re very disappointed with the lack of transparency so far and the lack of answers to legitimate questions being asked,” New Democrat Peter Julian said, agreeing with Waugh. “And this is coming from all the members of this committee, we want (…) to see the organization change.”

Adams was called to account by the committee over the firing of coach Lisa Ross. The two-time Olympian was fired from Sail Canada nine days after telling management she was pregnant.

Ross was the only woman on Sail Canada’s coaching staff with a high-performing director and coaches. Since her firing, Rosie Chapman has been hired on a contract basis.

By John Chidley-Hill in Toronto.