Canada’s safe sport commission announced, but Ottawa stops short of inquiry
Global News
Carla Qualtrough unveiled several measures, including a Future of Sport in Canada Commission that will hold a summit and produce two reports during its 18-month mandate.
Canada’s sports minister announced a national commission to delve into safe-sport problems, but stopped short of a public inquiry.
Carla Qualtrough unveiled several measures Monday in Ottawa, including a Future of Sport in Canada Commission that will hold a summit and produce two reports during its 18-month mandate.
A commissioner, who will be a legal expert and external to the sport system, and two advisers will head it.
“The starting point for the commission will be a recognition that bad things have happened and continue to happen in Canadian sport,” Qualtrough said.
She estimated the commission’s cost to be between $10 million and $15 million. Qualtrough is scheduled to provide a briefing to the House of Commons heritage committee Tuesday.
She was reappointed sports minister this year after her first stint in the portfolio between 2015 and 2017.
The lawyer and visually impaired former Paralympic swimmer returned to the file amid what she and predecessor Pascale St-Onge call a safe-sport crisis.
“Abuse in sport, maltreatment, unsafe sport is absolutely a crisis in this country and that’s why we’re moving forward with this commission,” Qualtrough said.