Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to start by thanking the minister and the president of the Canadian Olympic Committee for taking the time to be here to talk about preparations. We all appreciate the enormous efforts that are going into preparing for these games.
I'm pleased to have an opportunity to talk about these preparations from the point of view of inclusive Olympics, so that all athletes, their families, and spectators can feel free to participate in the Olympic Games. I want to start by noting the very positive work the Canadian Olympic Committee has done in promoting an inclusive Olympics.
The challenge for these Olympics is that they're taking place in Russia, which has recently passed a law known as the anti-gay propaganda law, which, as I'm sure most people are aware, makes any public discussion or demonstration of pro-gay ideas illegal. Individuals and organizations are subject to fines and detention and non-Russians to deportation and a ban from returning to the country.
This morning I've asked the committee to circulate two posters. I wonder if those could also be made available to the minister and the witnesses. I'd like to ask very specifically about these posters.
The anti-gay law in Russia has already been enforced against Russians and non-Russians alike, including an individual who held up a handmade sign saying, “Being gay and loving gays is normal. Beating gays and killing gays is a crime.” The individual was arrested and fined for holding up that sign.
Non-Russians, including a Dutch delegation from Groningen who were visiting their sister city, were arrested, detained, fined, deported, and banned from Russia for three years. So we have clear examples of this law being applied.
I have a specific question to the Minister of Sport. These posters, which I'm not sure he's received yet, prepared by Fondation Émergence de Montréal, depict two male hockey players kissing and two female snowboarders. These posters would be illegal in Russia, and if any of our Canadian participants chose to display these posters they would potentially be subject to the anti-gay law. Or if an athlete with a same-sex partner wishes to celebrate by kissing their partner, as in the poster, this is also illegal in Russia.
I'd like to ask the minister specifically what is Canada doing to make sure that all Canadian athletes, families, spectators can participate freely and fully in these games?