Thank you, Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses for their courage and their testimony today.
I took note that each of you asked for a national public inquiry. I heard Ms. Hepfner say “when” the government conducts an inquiry, so I think the minister needs to weigh in on this. She's been hugely silent.
I took note of your comments, Ms. Mason and Ms. McCormack, that she has been absent in terms of action. She has known about all of the things that are going on in these various sporting organizations, and continues to fund without concrete actions.
There are some actions that we've heard could be done while an inquiry is being held. They include vulnerable sector checks for every coach and person who's involved. This is something that happens in most charitable organizations across the country. There's also the reporting of sexual abuse to the police. It's a criminal offence. These organizations should not be investigating it themselves. As well, a registry would prevent these predators from going from one place to another and continuing the cycle of abuse.
There's anti-SLAPP legislation, making protection for whistle-blowers and ranking systems that are objective. Then I think there's something to be done in governance, because it's clear that although there's governance in all of these organizations, it's not working.
Ms. Mason, do you have some comments about the governance? I know you have an opinion here.