Canadian Heritage Committee on June 5th, 2023

[Suzanne Paulins]

I can certainly take that back and find out. Again, based upon the complaints that I'm aware of, there are no NDAs that have come from Swimming Canada. They have come as a result of a process, the disciplinary process where legal counsel have agreed to it from a complaint and a respondent perspective, but I'm happy to take that away.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

I hope you have that discussion, because even with that legal representation, as we've heard in our committee, that may be the only way to get a settlement, but then people feel trapped afterwards, and it may cause continued trauma.

Another one of Mr. Housefather's questions—we're stealing his thunder, so maybe I should have given him the two minutes—is whether you have a list of coaches who have faced discipline by Swimming Canada.

[Suzanne Paulins]

There are coaches who have received indefinite suspensions and, in order to return to the sport, they would have to reapply for membership. There are coaches in swimming's past who have had indefinite, permanent sanctions and have been severed from the sport, yes.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Would that then apply to provincial or local club level, or is it just at the national level?

[Suzanne Paulins]

It applies across the board, yes. It is across all levels.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

I think I only have 30 seconds. I'll just say—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

You have 38 seconds.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Thank you very much. I appreciate the accuracy.

I do want to thank you for your time, and I hope that your organization continues to be proactive. This isn't an organization that is in a similar boat to some of the others we've met with, so I do want to say thank you and good luck in your role.

Thank you.

[Suzanne Paulins]

Thank you very much.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Thank you.

We will move to the Bloc for two and a half minutes.

Mr. Lemire.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll continue with the processes.

Do you know if your independent third party has the reflex to forward files to the police?

[Suzanne Paulins]

Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.

That is built into our policies. Should there be something that is a criminal complaint, it is sent to the police right away.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

How do you inform Sport Canada?

[Suzanne Paulins]

I believe you're asking how we inform Sport Canada.

We would inform Sport Canada of any major risk, which would include a criminal complaint with regard to a coach suspension.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

With regard to your responsibilities as a national sport organization, have you inquired about the role that Ahmed El‑Awadi may have played in his employment at Water Polo Canada?

[Suzanne Paulins]

I believe that was a question with regard to Mr. El-Awadi and his time at Water Polo Canada.

I have no information with regard to Mr. El-Awadi's time at Water Polo Canada.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Obviously, your organization could have suffered the consequences of his testimony before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, where he was questioned about the role he played at Water Polo Canada and his responsibility in appointing the national team coach.

Would you agree that hiring someone to coach the national team shouldn't take into account their internal reports, which may not have been entirely diligent? Have you reviewed your hiring practices? Have you also checked employment histories?

[Suzanne Paulins]

I believe that the question was about our hiring practices. Yes, we do full background checks as well as reference checks in our hiring practices today.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

We will go for the final two and a half minutes to the NDP.

Ms. Zarrillo, please.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a motion for the committee:

That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage invite Mary-Sophie Harvey to appear, if she chooses, in committee in the coming weeks, as early as June 12.

Can I continue with my questions?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Yes, you can continue.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you so much.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

You have two minutes left.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you.

I am interested in the preparation for the Olympics and in ensuring that the Olympians are protected on the international stage when they are travelling internationally.

I'm wondering if any work has begun or whether it's already completed on how to protect our athletes as they travel and compete on the international stages.