Speech
Speaking Notes
The Honourable Kirsty Duncan
Minister of Science and Sport
Toronto, ON
March 13, 2019
Check Against Delivery
Good afternoon everyone.
I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on traditional territory of the Attawandaron [at-a-wand-a-ron], Anishnaabeg [a-nish-NAH-bay], and Haudenosaunee [hoe-dee-na-SHOW-nee] Peoples.
Thank you to all our partners and stakeholders for taking part in this event.
And a big welcome to the athletes in the room. You inspire us all—and we are so enormously proud of your accomplishments.
Our government's goal is to ensure that all athletes and children in sport can pursue their dreams and goals in a safe environment.
Since being appointed Minister of Sport one year ago, I have worked hard to put athletes and children in sport at the centre of everything we do, from the playground to the podium.
And that means, first and foremost, keeping them safe from harassment, abuse and discrimination.
Like many of you here, sport is my life.
And my coaches were the best parts of my childhood. And sport was a safe place, a refuge for me. I wish this were the case for all athletes.
We are all aware of recent reports regarding serious allegations and criminal convictions of sexual abuse in sport in Canada. It breaks my heart.
When people are abused, the hurt continues long after the incident, the damage continues throughout their lives.
Abuse is a systemic problem in sport. To effect a real and lasting change, we need a culture shift and to make this happen, everyone needs to work together.
We need to guarantee a safe environment for all athletes and youth in sport before we talk about anything else – nothing else matters if an athlete is facing harassment, abuse or discrimination.
I thank the survivors of abuse in sport for their courage in coming forward and telling their stories so that others don't suffer the same fate.
As of today there is going to be a safe place to have your issues addressed.
Today we are announcing two important measures to make our sport system safer for all athletes and children in sport.
First, we are creating a third-party investigative unit that will be available to national sport organizations, multisport service organizations and Canadian sport centres.
Those organizations can use this to ensure that investigations of harassment, abuse and discrimination complaints are carried out in an independent and arms-length fashion.
Trained investigators will assist federally funded sport organizations in addressing complaints or allegations of harassment, abuse or discrimination.
The second measure we are announcing today is a national, toll-free confidential helpline for victims and witnesses to report harassment, abuse and discrimination in sport.
This helpline will serve as a triage mechanism by making available a professional listening and referral service that will direct callers to the appropriate resources.
The toll-free helpline is available across the country, and it's open to everyone in the Canadian sport system.
The funding for these two initiatives will flow from the Government's Budget 2018 commitment of $30 million to support the participation and retention of women and girls in all aspects of the Canadian sport system.
These new steps are among a long list of actions we have already taken this year to make sport safer.
Last April, I announced the creation of the Working Group on Gender Equity in Sport to share experiences, perspectives and insights on gender-based violence and to promote safe sport.
I would like to thank all members of the Working Group, particularly the chair, Guylaine Demers, for their commitment, dedication and important work, and for their input on shaping these two new measures.
Then in June, I announced tough new measures for federally funded sport organizations. I made it clear that Government of Canada funding would be withheld if they fail to:
strengthen their mandatory anti-harassment, abuse and discrimination policies;
immediately disclose incidents of harassment, abuse and discrimination;
put in place an independent third party to address these cases; and,
provide mandatory training to their members by April 1, 2020.
Last month, our government announced that we are providing funding to the Coaching Association of Canada to develop a model nationwide Code of Conduct for sport in Canada.
The code will be available for use in all sports at all levels, from national sports organizations to community teams.
It will serve as a basis for the management of harassment, abuse and discrimination cases, and as a model for common sanctioning for those who breach the code.
We also recently established a Gender Equity Secretariat at Sport Canada. This new Secretariat will develop a Gender Equity Strategy and be exclusively devoted to ensuring the increased participation of women and girls in all aspects of sport.
Throughout last summer and fall, I engaged the provinces and territories and personally spoke to each of my Ministerial counterparts about the need for collective action to end harassment, abuse and discrimination in sport.
On February 15, we all endorsed the Red Deer Declaration for the Prevention of Harassment, Abuse and Discrimination in Sport.
With this declaration, we made clear that all Canadians have the right to participate in sport in an environment that is safe, welcoming, inclusive, ethical and respectful.
There must be zero tolerance for gender-based violence and abuse in sport and we need to work together to address harassment, abuse and discrimination in sport across the country.
The independent Investigation Unit and the national toll-free confidential helpline we are announcing today, are building on this Red Deer Declaration.
We must do everything in our power to make our sport system safer, healthier and more inclusive for all Canadians.
And we will do this—by working together.
By taking action now. Because our children and our athletes deserve better.
When we make sport safer and more inclusive, we make sport better for everyone.
Thank you.
