Thank you so much, Chair.
I just want to start by thanking all of the witnesses today for coming forward with quite raw truths.
Madame Shore, I was very touched when you spoke about the fact that when you came forward to disclose abuse, people didn't believe you. I want to acknowledge how violent that is and how retraumatizing that is. I want—I'm sorry, I'm emotional—to say that I hope you, all of you, have some justice here and that people will hear you and acknowledge your truth.
I just wanted to start off with that, and just to say that I absolutely agree with the witnesses that this is an absolute human rights crisis, and certainly a failure to uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child specifically, for example article 19, which states:
States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
I was really struck by one of the things that you spoke about, Ms. Cline, which is the fact that there is no requirement for coaches to have to take an abuse registry check. To have an abuse registry check is something that is required of all teachers—I was a teacher—and even for early childhood educators. I was also an early childhood educator.
Do you think changing the regulations to make that a requirement would make a difference in the protection of children?