Status of Women Committee on Dec. 5th, 2022

Evidence of meeting #44 for Status of Women in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was athletes.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Women and Girls in Sport

MPs speaking

Karen Vecchio

Michelle Ferreri

Emmanuella Lambropoulos

Also speaking

Geneviève Jeanson Public Speaker and Consultant, As an Individual

Jennifer Fraser Author and Educational Consultant, As an Individual

Wendy Glover Secondary School Teacher and Athlete Development Consultant, As an Individual

Allison Forsyth Chief Operating Officer, ITP Sport and Recreation Inc.

Guylaine Demers Professor, Department of Physical Education, Université Laval, As an Individual

Marie-Claude Asselin Chief Executive Officer, Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada

1 p.m.

Bloc

Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC

Ms. Forsyth…

1 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio

Thanks, Andréanne—

1 p.m.

Bloc

Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC

… while the representatives of 15 sport disciplines are seeking an independent investigation, why aren't you calling for one? You've also cited a problem of culture.

1 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio

Okay. It's an audible question, but I do have to get on to Leah as well.

Leah, you have the floor.

1 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Building on what Andréanne mentioned, it often takes people years to disclose, and it's difficult, right? One of the things we've heard that is concerning is the practice of having athletes sign non-disclosure agreements. Does your organization have athletes sign non-disclosure agreements?

1 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada

Marie-Claude Asselin

No.

1 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Okay. There's no.... I want to understand this. When you were talking about confidentiality, none of it involves non-disclosure agreements. Is that right?

1 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada

Marie-Claude Asselin

No. The confidentiality is to protect the information they receive through the investigation process, but their story is theirs and they have the right to talk about it.

1 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Okay. No athlete in that process is obliged to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

1 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada

Marie-Claude Asselin

No.

1 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Okay. Thank you.

1 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio

Thank you so much.

I would really like to thank Allison, Marie-Claude and Guylaine for joining us today.

I have a reminder for our committee members. We'll be meeting once again on Thursday afternoon. We'll be going through lots of committee business as we're going forward from 3:30 to 5:30.

Now we're adjourning for today.