Can Canadian sports achieve sustainable culture change? Minister details plan

The announcement comes after a series of hearings held by parliamentary committees appointed to investigate sporting abuses and safe sport in Canada.

Canada’s sport minister has announced a slate of reforms to address the safe sport crisis.

Pascale St-Onge unveiled measures to make national sports organizations more accountable for the federal funding they receive.

A public registry of people who have been sanctioned or suspended within the sport system, restricting the use of non-disclosure agreements, making financial statements public and changing the makeup of boards of directors were among measures announced.

The recent avalanche of athlete complaints about maltreatment and abuse, including sexual abuse, in their sports threw Canadian sport into crisis.

Tearful athletes across several sports have testified at parliamentary committee hearings in Ottawa about the abuse and harassment they experienced from coaches and other team personnel, how those in power turned a blind eye to it, and their fear of repercussions if they complained.

There have been calls from some quarters for a national inquiry, including St-Onge’s predecessor Kirsty Duncan, which St-Onge has so far resisted.

Among the measures announced Thursday:

This year’s federal budget committed $13.8 million to safe sport.