Safe sport reform is just getting started. But are some sports more prone to abuse?
Global News
In an interview with Global News, Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge talks about Ottawa's new safe sport measures and investigating abuse complaints.
The work done so far to raise standards and tackle abuse in sports isn’t the end of the story.
National sports organizations must make sure those higher standards and zero tolerance for abuse trickle down to their chapters across the country, Canada’s sport minister said.
“More needs to be done,” said Pascale St-Onge in an interview with Global News.
A surge of allegations and complaints about abuse and exploitation of athletes have rocked the world over recent years, including allegations of sporting officials not taking complaints seriously or trying to cover up claims.
And the time is now for sports organizations to do more, she said, including in sports that she acknowledged may be more prone to abuse.
“What we’re doing is really setting our expectations much higher in regards to governance, financial transparency, prevention and education and also creating better conditions so that coaches have better background checks,” St-Onge said, referencing measures announced by the federal government earlier this month.
On May 11, the federal government unveiled a slate of reforms to improve the accountability of national sports organizations and bring about a “culture change” for athletes.
Among the steps Ottawa is taking is setting up a public registry of people who have been sanctioned or suspended within the sport system, as well as new funding to screen national coaches.