Evidence of meeting #104 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was athletes.
A video is available from Parliament.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
You asked her a question. Now let her finish her answer. Mr. Green, please try to be respectful of this committee.
Can the witness answer your question?
1 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Why are you interrupting me right now? That's not the rule.
I have a point of order.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I'm not interrupting you. You're cutting her off when she's answering the question.
You have a point of order, but I'm telling you to be respectful of the witness, please, Mr. Green.
1 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
You haven't heard my point of order.
My point of order is this: I'm in the middle of an intervention. I have six minutes. I have the ability to move questions along. I have the ability to use whatever tone I feel is appropriate. I have not been disrespectful in asking for answers.
It's not your role as chair to interrupt my intervention.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I'm sorry, Mr. Green. I think that, when you ask a question, you should get an answer, no matter how short. You cannot cut through on people. I don't think we do that around here in this committee.
Thank you.
Go ahead, please.
1 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I'll note that I have two minutes and 36 seconds used as of this moment.
Ms. Mondou, who is responsible for creating the terms of reference?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
The terms of reference were adopted by the government, so the minister is the one who directs the terms of reference.
1 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
If the minister is responsible for the terms of reference, it would be within the minister's responsibility and purview to direct at least a memorandum of understanding with the provinces for co-operation. Otherwise, I think it's fair for the people watching to make the assessment that, absent an inquiry with powers to demand documents, this commission is subject to the voluntary co-operation of its provincial counterparts.
Is that not correct?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
No, it's not correct.
In fact, a commission of inquiry can only compel documents issued under this jurisdiction. Unless it is a provincial one, it is not able to compel documents from the provinces and territories unless they have, themselves, accepted the terms of reference.
1 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
How will the commission remedy this? You still haven't answered that question.
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
The commission will engage as per the terms of reference immediately, as soon as it's set up. We'll seek the collaboration of the provinces and the territories from the get-go. As I mentioned, the minister has already talked to the ministers, and she has had a very positive reaction.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Are you going to ensure that people who are currently under NDAs, who have confidentiality clauses enforced by the NSOs or the PTSOs, or who are engaged in complaint processes can safely share their experiences?
1:05 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Thank you for the question.
In fact, NDAs are not allowed anymore. If an organization has NDAs, it cannot get funding from Sport Canada anymore.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
What if a person is under a past NDA? Is it still in force or are NDAs now null and void across all complaint processes historically?
1:05 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
NDAs are not allowed anymore for safe sport, whether they are past or future. The only NDAs that are allowed are for things like not giving technical specifications about how you win or how you do better in sport. These are allowed, but there are no NDAs to do with abuse in sport or anything related to abuse.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Will you at least encourage the commissioner to hold some public hearings for organizations participating in this process, so the Canadian public can be better educated about the crisis?
1:05 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Thank you for the question.
Yes, the terms of reference actually require that the commission hold some public hearings. They will have round tables. They will have public forums in addition to the survey and the public website that they will create for the public in general.
Obviously, there will be the national summit that will also have the benefit of input from all actors in sports and outside of the sports who will be instrumental in giving recommendations.
1:05 p.m.
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I have nine seconds, but that's fine. I'll submit them.
Go ahead.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you.
We've been sounding out the committee. People want to just go with a half of one round. It will be five minutes for the Conservatives, five minutes for the Liberals, two and a half minutes for Mr. Lemire, and two and a half minutes for Mr. Green. We won't go with the last two.
Everybody seems to be on the same page here. Thank you.
For five minutes, we'll go to Kevin Waugh for the Conservatives.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I see in the mandate letter to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, that the minister must “Ensure a holistic and balanced strategic approach to sport development in Canada that supports the purpose and goals of the Canadian Sport Policy”.
It's December 12. I haven't seen a policy. Do we have one?
1:05 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
The policy is a federal and provincial policy. The minister does not control the policy alone. It's a concerted effort. I would say that we are 85% or 90% there.
Obviously, in light of the announcement yesterday, our colleagues in the provinces just want to make sure that we still have the right wording. The announcement yesterday talked about human rights, for example. However, we are almost there. You can expect an approval of the policy by the minister in 2024.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative