Evidence of meeting #46 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.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Thank you, Mr. Winter.
In particular, you mentioned earlier that you have a whistleblower procedure in place. And you are in favour of an independent inquiry. Now, all of this shows that there is a major problem upstream with the culture in sports and in your sport.
I would like you to tell us about the main steps taken by your organization recently to bring about a real change in sports culture. Could you give me some examples of things that have been done?
Director, Domestic Programs and Safe Sport, Athletics Canada
As I mentioned in my opening statement, we're working with both volleyball and swimming to develop an education platform that looks to address a more holistic athlete experience. There will be education components around maltreatment specifically, but we're also looking at other components: mental wellness, nutrition, injury prevention and concussion prevention. That's the place we want to go with this, because we know that while the maltreatment piece is certainly the most egregious and the most concerning, those other areas are equally important for ensuring athletes have a positive experience in sports. Unfortunately that platform just doesn't exist right now.
We are using education and training programs provided through both the CAC—the Coaching Association of Canada—and the Respect Group. We have all of our coaches, staff, and board and committee members take that training, but we feel the athletes obviously need to have the training as well. It's hugely important. It's unfortunate that those training and education modules currently don't exist.
By working with those two other NSOs and with the support of the CAC, we're endeavouring to do this, and that process has been going on for well over a year now.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
That's perfect.
We'll now move back over to Leah Gazan.
Leah, you have two minutes.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I want to follow up with Ms. Gassewitz.
You indicated that you don't provide any funding, but I'm looking at your website and I see this, from July 9, 2021: “SIRC Awards Community Activation Grants to Champion Safety in Sport”. It says, “The Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) is pleased to continue making sport safer in Canada.... Through SIRC’s Community Activation Grants program, 25 organizations have received grants to focus on education and awareness of...sport in their communities”. Then it goes on to say this is supported by the government.
You have, in fact, provided financial supports, supported by the federal government, so I'm going to go back to my question. Have you ever funded an organization that's been implicated in child abuse, and if so, what has been your immediate response?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sport Information Resource Centre
On the framing of the community activation grants, which was a pilot where we were working towards education—
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I would like that question answered, because you had the discretion to choose who got the funding. You were involved. Did you fund anybody who had allegations of child abuse, and if so, what happened to the grants?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sport Information Resource Centre
We have a process we go through—in this case it was for the pilot—when looking at all the different communities across the country to see what we can share—
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
So you didn't fund any organizations that were implicated in any sort of child abuse.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sport Information Resource Centre
For organizations that to our knowledge are in the matrix we are looking at, it is a no. We are doing our best to increase awareness and try to help with education. I think that's the big focus—
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
It seems like there are a lot of conflicts here. I'm sorry that I have to be so pushy, but I was told one thing and then I have to research and find out other information. There seems to be a level of distrust in this field. I hope I can get some clarification. Maybe you can submit a written brief about it.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sport Information Resource Centre
I'm happy to follow up with you in any way if there's something I don't understand.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
That's fantastic.
I'm just going to use the privilege of the chair to ask one question specifically of you, Debra.
When I look at the funding model for your organization, I see that approximately 92% of funding is from the Government of Canada. Is that correct?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sport Information Resource Centre
This last year, given COVID.... I'm just going to speak to the numerous different pieces. It's not 92%.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Your 2021 balance sheet shows that 92% of funding was from the federal government, so could you send in your documents for 2022? I would ask that you table those so we can see the funding from the Government of Canada to your organization. I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much.
On behalf of all committee members, I'd like to thank all of the witnesses for today's testimony. I appreciate all of you for coming in.
To all members, best wishes and have a healthy and happy holiday season. This is our last FEWO meeting until January 2023.
To everybody, have a safe and happy holidays. Thanks very much.