Thank you so much.
Thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
My first question is for Mr. Winter. I'm going to read from a CBC article from February 10, 2020, entitled “Athletics Canada Athlete Council says track body failed alleged victim of sexual abuse”. It says:
The Athletics Canada Athlete Council condemned Canada's track and field governing body Monday in the wake of allegations surrounding former national coach Dave Scott-Thomas.
The open letter from the athlete council came two days after former student-athlete Megan Brown came forward in a Globe and Mail story alleging that Scott-Thomas, a former University of Guelph coach, groomed her for a sexual relationship when she was 17.
Athletics Canada said in a statement Saturday that the Globe and Mail report was “deeply disturbing,” but claimed no complaint had been made directly to the national organizing body or its independent commissioner's office.
However, the Athletics Canada Athlete Council, which was founded in 2012 to advocate for athletes within Athletics Canada, said the organization failed to take action when Brown needed its help.
“This inaction and dismissal perpetrated a culture of disempowerment of sex abuse victims,” the athlete council said in the letter. “Furthermore, the continued appraisal of Mr. Scott-Thomas, and denial of any wrongdoing on the part of [Athletics Canada], only reinforced his position of power over the victim[s].”
I share this with you because you mentioned in your testimony that you oversee safe sport policies and governance. Is that correct?