Evidence of meeting #40 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 investigation.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you very much, Minister.
I'll now go to Tim Louis for the Liberals for two and a half minutes.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank the minister for being here today.
From discussions with constituents and people everywhere, I know parents want to see change. Canadians want to see change. We see that trust in Hockey Canada has definitely been lost.
Minister, as you mentioned a number of times and as we understand, Sport Canada is not a regulatory agency. It's through funding agreements that we can impose these conditions. We also see that suspending funding is a very strong lever for applying these conditions. I do not think—and I don't think anyone thinks—it's a coincidence that since Sport Canada stopped its funding and private companies pulled their sponsorship funding from Hockey Canada, it's only now they're claiming to step up and do more to address the toxic culture.
If it takes a federal freeze on funds, a financial audit and corporate sponsors pulling their support, are you prepared to halt funding to other sports organizations if they're not complying with the funding conditions that are now in place?
2 p.m.
Liberal
Pascale St-Onge Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Absolutely. One of the conditions that we're going to impose until now and April 2023 is that all national organizations funded through the federal government will have to sign off with the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner. That is extremely important. It's a major game-changer in the whole sport system. If they don't comply, they won't be receiving any money from the federal government.
That's one of the examples. We're also going to look at the governance of the sport organizations and the accountability, and at how Sport Canada can assess whether they have met the very strong and important criteria they are going to be given in order to receive federal funding. If they don't comply, they won't receive funds from the Canadian government.
2 p.m.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
I have very limited time, Minister. Maybe in closing, what would you say to encourage the bravery, the courage, of someone who has felt abuse to come forward, and that their voice will be heard?
2 p.m.
Liberal
Pascale St-Onge Liberal Brome—Missisquoi, QC
First of all, I want to tell them that it is their stories and their experience that guide me every day in doing the job that I'm doing. I want to salute their courage. I want to thank all of the athletes and all of the victims who came out and told us their stories. Without those stories, it's still the culture of silence, and that's exactly what needs to be broken.
We need to empower athletes in speaking out. We need to empower witnesses. That's one of the reasons the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner was created, so that there's a safe place for their cases to be assessed and addressed in a professional and transparent matter. The most important of the criteria was independence.
I want to thank each and every one who came out and who is also helping us do our jobs today and improving the sport system.
2 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you very much, Minister.
That puts an end to this hour of hearings. I want to thank the minister and her officials for coming.
I also want to thank my colleagues. It's been a long, long haul, with the number of hours we've done, although Mr. Housefather is sitting on the Mediterranean looking gorgeous. I think the important thing is that we need to see you back again tomorrow, ready to roll. Thank you very much.
Thank you to the clerk and all of the interpreters, etc., for making sure that we could hold this meeting.
Will everyone accept that this meeting be adjourned? Yes?
Bye.