Evidence of meeting #30 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sports.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL
Thank you very much.
I want to ask Marie-Hélène Thibeault about sexual abuse and confronting that environment.
First, I want to ask whether a lack of female coaches or a lack of female staff contributes to that sort of environment. You hit on something, too, that maybe in our short amount of time you could comment on, and that's the sexualization of athletes in the eyes of young girls.
October 18th, 2016 / 12:10 p.m.
Former Executive Director, Fast and Female
By no means am I an expert in the realm—
Liberal
Former Executive Director, Fast and Female
When I was on the team, there was one female, and that was the physiotherapist. To some extent, I can see why they would have assigned a female for that role, because you're getting treatment on your leg or on your glutes. There's a level of intimacy with the athletes.
I can't speak to whether it's part of the practice now to have female physiotherapists in the context of treating female athletes, but that was the only female presence on our team at that time. There were three male coaches, one with an extremely strong ego who managed to keep a lid on what was going on. No one spoke up, including the athletes. It created an unfortunate situation that only emerged 15 years later.
I think having females speaking openly to other females creates a level of assurance. Imagine being 16 years old, and you're on the road three-quarters of the year. Your coach becomes kind of your dad, your mentor. It's a very complicated relationship.
You're not going to confide these types of situations to your peers, because that creates a very uncomfortable situation. Having more of a female presence on the coaching staff in a respected, meaningful role.... Lorraine and I were talking about this before we started.
I actually had a seat on the women's cross-country committee. Cross Country Canada has a women's committee, which I actually give a high-five to. I'm not sure that all the federations have a women's committee. We would talk about female coaches being assigned to kind of check off that, yes, we sent a female coach to the junior world championship. Guess what she was doing. She was carrying skis and filming the athletes. She did not have a meaningful leadership role or develop her own abilities as a coach.
I think that whole dynamic around a female presence on coaching teams is significant.
To your second point on the sexualization in the media, well, two days ago I googled female athletes just for fun to check what would emerge, and the first 15 links were the hottest 10 female athletes from the U.S., or the coolest looking girls, or hottest female Olympian athletes. It's always geared toward that sexualization. Then I did the exercise just to compare with male athletes, and the first one that emerged was “who is the strongest male athlete”. There are two standards for how we assess female and male athletes. You might have seen that even in the commentary at the Olympics. There were a couple of slips where a female athlete was acknowledged as being the wife of...you know, some football player.
We need to transform culturally how women, female athletes, are positioned and perceived before we can make sure our five- and eight-year-olds want to be pumped up about being that next soccer rock star or being the next soccer coach. There's really fundamental—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you very much. Thanks Seamus.
We're going to Mr. Samson, for the Liberals.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Oh, sorry.
Yes, we are going to Mr. Samson. I'm going according to what this says.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
We've never had time for an extra Liberal, but we should, so I'm going according to this thing here.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
I would like to make two important points.
In Nova Scotia, for the past 10 years or more, it has been mandatory to have at least one female coach for girls' soccer. The province adopted this regulation at least 10 years ago. I don't know if that is the case in other provinces, but it is mandatory. This is quite impressive.
I spent 30 years in the education sector and this is the first time I have heard this. It is touching and it makes me a bit uncomfortable. As a school principal and superintendent of French-language schools in Nova Scotia, I should perhaps have tried to do more about girls who drop out of sports. I had heard that girls are six times more likely than boys to quit sports at the age of 13. That concerns me a great deal.
We need to take action very early with children, but we must focus on girls. We often hear about good role models. It would certainly be better if there were female coaches. That would encourage girls and women to continue their training.
My two girls played soccer at the provincial and national levels. Now they are teachers and soccer coaches, especially for girls' teams. In the past, girls did not play soccer at school, but now they play a great deal.
Can you comment on that? The question is open to everyone.
Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada
I will answer your question about female coaches.
I recognize the shortcoming in the policies of national sports organizations. The system should make it mandatory for a female coach to travel with female teams.
Downhill skiing went through a very difficult period in 2015. We triggered a process to support philosophical change in national sport organizations, clubs and in the provinces. One part of this change is the rule of two, that is, that there should be at least one man and one woman on a female team at all times. Unfortunately, that is not the case now. We recognize that this change is needed.
As Ms. Thibeault noted, it must be a positive experience for female coaches. It must be an opportunity for them to be part of a respected field.
In Nova Scotia, there is an outstanding female coach who helps prepare young girls for the Canada Games. She provides very targeted coaching for these young athletes, bearing in my what motivates young girls, such as friendship, harmony or a positive activity. She is very successful and that is what we should do with our sports teams.
Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada
I don't remember her name but I will find it and send it to you.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
I will find it.
I have one final question.
In 2012, the government adopted a national policy after consulting the provinces. Does this policy address the needs related to the role of women in sport?
Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada
What is the 2012 policy?
Liberal
Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada
Is it in effect?
Liberal
Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada
It supports sports and the sports environment in an ethical and respectful way. That is something different.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
What could we add to the policy? That is what I would like to know. I invite you to send us your answer in writing for the committee's information.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Ms. Pattenden, do you wish to say something? We kind of don't see you because you're not sitting at the table and we tend to overlook you. I'm sorry, but did you have something to comment on that last question by Mr. Samson?
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Sport Institute
I would just say that actions and words are important. We have a lot of words and we need more action and accountability.
Everyone says the right things, but when push comes to shove, are the budgets equal? Are the facilities being used by athletes of both genders at their key times?
I just think we need to have a closer look at accountability.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you very much.
Now we go to Mr. Nantel. Will you be splitting with Madame Trudel as well?
Okay, Madame Trudel, go ahead.
NDP
Karine Trudel NDP Jonquière, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I will share my time with my colleague.
I would like to return to what was said earlier about the sexualization of sport. I was talking to my colleague Pierre Nantel about this earlier and the image that came to mind was the women's beach volleyball team. How can we create programs where the equipment is not an instrument of sexualization? Of course I know that the bathing suit has to be tailored to the sport. What would you suggest that the committee could include in its report? I know this a matter...
Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada
Beach volleyball is one of the worst examples. It is disappointing.
I will try to give you a few quick suggestions. There would have to be a report. Seeing what happens at the Olympic Games and all the attention our Olympic athletes get, we could do a thorough analysis of the content of television and radio coverage to highlight the differences between them. That is very clear and simple. In addition, we could create a communication standard with vocabulary to help the media and stakeholders involved in promoting women in sports. In my opinion, a positive step could trigger a long-term change regarding the sexualization of sport in the media.