Evidence of meeting #48 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
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Okay.
My next question is for Ms. Proske from AthletesCAN, or Mr. El‑Awadi from Swimming Canada.
Since 2018, national sport organizations have been required to report cases of abuse to Sport Canada. How many cases have you reported to Sport Canada since 2018, and who did you share the information with?
Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Canada
We've reported about 15 cases since 2018. We provided the information directly to the person who was assigned to our organization by Sport Canada. Reports must be made based on when a formal complaint was received or a formal process was initiated.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Okay.
I'd like Ms. Proske to answer the same question.
How many cases of abuse have you reported to Sport Canada, and who did you share the information with?
Vice-President, AthletesCAN
I don't have any numbers for you. I wish I did.
Our role is to help guide athletes to the proper resources. We do also work, I believe, with the Western University Sports Solution Clinic, which offers legal counsel if they are going into an appeals process, but we don't handle safe sports issues.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
How much does it cost to be part of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner?
Vice-President, AthletesCAN
Again, it's another great question I don't have information for, but I can find out for you.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Okay. That's great.
To conclude, I'd like to ask Mr. El‑Awadi a quick question.
Mr. El‑Awadi, in answering your questions, you mentioned people from Sport Canada assigned to your organization.
Who is the person assigned to Swimming Canada?
Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Canada
I don't have the name with me, but I think his first name was Rafael. I would have to check the list. Our operations department manages this process with Sport Canada.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Wonderful. Thank you so much.
We're now going to pass it over to Leah Gazan.
Leah, you have six minutes.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you so much, Chair.
Just as a follow up to Adréanne Larouche's question, if you could submit that information to the committee, that would be very helpful.
My first question is for Mr. El-Jawadi with Swimming Canada. Is that right?
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
El-Awadi. Sorry.
I'm looking at a news article of July 24, 2012. Were you the executive director at the time Guy Baker was hired? Were you the executive director?
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you for confirming that.
You're quoted as saying:
'Guy is one of the most widely respected coaches in water polo,' said El-Awadi from WPC’s head office in Ottawa. 'There is no other coach on the planet who has had more success in the women’s game and we’re absolutely thrilled that he’s on board to lead our program into the next Olympic Games.'
In 2022 the lawsuit came out, a $5.5 million lawsuit by Danièle Sauvageau. This is what the article says:
The lawsuit also outlines critiques of some national team support staff. Valin allegedly went to WPC support staff member Daniele Sauvageau in 2013 about Guy Baker’s bullying and outbursts, expressing her fear of working with him.
You said he was the best coach ever. I'm wondering what standards in terms of hiring practices and oversight are used when you say this is the best coach ever. I have used the practices used in teaching a number of times. For example, all educators in Manitoba have to pass a child abuse registry check. What I'm finding with this is that people just have to have good technical expertise.
Outside of good technical expertise, what kind of characteristics did he have to show to demonstrate he's the best coach ever?
Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Canada
I'm not going to speak past 2013. I was not with the organization anymore. During that hiring process—
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
—and he ended up being another abusive coach. So when you hired him, what standards were in place to say he is the best coach ever?
Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Canada
Guy underwent an extensive hiring process. We had partners at the table. We did reference checks. He came from the NCAA and USA Swimming, and with both he had an extensive, long career of over 20 years.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Could you submit to the committee the formal process used for hiring? I have a limited amount of time, and I think that would be helpful.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I'm not getting a clear understanding of the hiring process verbally, and I don't have much more time, so if you could submit that to the committee, that would be great.
Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Canada
I understand that, but I wouldn't have access to Water Polo Canada's documents from 2012, so I wouldn't want to commit.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Okay, that's fine. I'm sure we'll find another way.
I'll move on to another question for you.
There have been a lot of criticisms about NSOs and NSOs' failure in many cases to participate in thorough investigations, and, because of this, abuse continues. One thing that victims are calling for is a judicial inquiry. Do you support a judicial inquiry?
Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Canada
I do. I would support that and other forms of audits that would help augment the system as well as make it a safer place.