Abuse in sport: Kirsty Duncan accuses government of not doing enough
in an exclusive interview with CBC News, Kirsty Duncan believes the Trudeau government has failed to follow through on efforts to prevent harassment, abuse and discrimination in sports since leaving cabinet.
Ms. Duncan says she was aware of problems in the sport long before Hockey Canada dealt with sexual harassment allegations in the media last year.
” There should be no struggle. I ask for the protection of athletes and children. There should never have been resistance. »
I will not sit quietly when there are athletes, children and young people suffering in this country. […] If I’m not pushing for an investigation, that’s accepting the status quo. And I will not be complicit.
On Thursday, the lawmaker announced that he had taken immediate medical leave on the advice of doctors to deal with a physical health issue.
Kirsty Duncan was not reappointed to Cabinet by Justin Trudeau after the 2019 election, instead she was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Government. The Prime Minister stepped down as Sports Minister at the time to hand over the duties to the portfolio of Heritage Minister Stephen Guilbeault.
Mr Guilbeault’s ministerial mandate letter, which outlines his main policy objectives, tasked him, among other things, with developing a culture of safe sport.
other priorities
Kirsty Duncan believes that playing sport should be safe and free of all fear.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Samuel Ranger
In response to questions from the CBC about the progress made since then, Steven Guilbeault’s office provided a timeline of Sport Canada’s safe sports initiatives.
In particular, the department launched a call for proposals in July 2021 to create a new independent mechanism for sport safety in 2020, leading to the creation of Canada’s new Sports Dispute Resolution Centre.
A senior government source with knowledge of Mr. Guilbeault’s portfolio acknowledges this other priorities required more attention
when he was heritage minister, such as tackling online abuse, regulating digital broadcasting and copyright reform.
This was reported by a source who wished to remain confidential CBC News that the ministry’s priorities changed when the pandemic hit in March 2020, just four months after Stephen Guilbeault was appointed minister. The source said understand completely
According to Kirsty Duncan, more could be done in safe sports training.
Since 2016, our government has been working with the sporting community to develop a respectful sporting culture and respond to calls to action.
the minister sent an email to Guilbeault’s office CBC News.
In July 2021, Minister Steven Guilbeault launched a call for proposals to create an independent mechanism for sport safety in 2020, giving rise to Canada’s new Sports Dispute Resolution Centre.
Photo: Radio-Canada
” There was nothing in place. There was literally nothing. There was no such thing as politics. Some have policies and some don’t. Where was the control? Where was the responsibility? »
is asked by CBC responded to the accusations of his predecessor, the current sports minister, Pascale St-Onge: I can tell you that we take the issue very seriously.
millions de dollars dans le dernier budget juste pour créer le Bureau du commissaire à l’intégrité du sport, parce que nous avons estimé qu’il était si important d’avoir ce mécanisme indépendant, explique Mme St-Onge. J’oblige également tous les organismes financés par l’État à s’y inscrire avant le prochain cycle de financement.”,”text”:”C’est pourquoi nous avons investi 16millions de dollars dans le dernier budget juste pour créer le Bureau du commissaire à l’intégrité du sport, parce que nous avons estimé qu’il était si important d’avoir ce mécanisme indépendant, explique Mme St-Onge. J’oblige également tous les organismes financés par l’État à s’y inscrire avant le prochain cycle de financement.”}}”>“That’s why we invested $16 million in the last budget just to create the Office of the Sports Integrity Commissioner because we felt it was so important to have this independent mechanism,” Ms. Onge says. I also require all publicly funded organizations to register by the next funding cycle.
OSIC ne recevra plus l’intégralité de son financement. C’est l’outil le plus puissant dont je dispose. Donc oui, nous prenons cela extrêmement, extrêmement au sérieux.”,”text”:”Toute organisation qui n’a pas protégé ses athlètes en s’inscrivant auprès de l’OSIC ne recevra plus l’intégralité de son financement. C’est l’outil le plus puissant dont je dispose. Donc oui, nous prenons cela extrêmement, extrêmement au sérieux.”}}”>Any organization that does not protect its athletes by registeringOSIC will no longer receive full funding. It is the most powerful tool I have. Yes, we take it extremely seriously.
A few weeks after Kirsty Duncan was appointed Sports Minister in January 2018, an investigation CBC At least 222 amateur sports coaches have been convicted of sex crimes involving more than 600 victims under the age of 18 over a 20-year period, the news showed.
Ms Duncan – herself a former gymnast who said she suffered emotional and psychological abuse as an athlete – said she was shocked by the report.
It has implemented a number of measures, such as an independent investigation unit and a free and confidential national helpline for victims and witnesses of violence in sport. It also brought together territorial and provincial sports ministers in February 2019 to sign a declaration aimed at combating and preventing harassment, abuse and discrimination in sport.
Reluctance within the government
Despite the $30 million over five years announced in the 2019 federal budget To enable Canadian sport organizations to promote accessible, ethical, fair and safe sport
Ms. Duncan says there was a climate of resistance to reform both inside and outside government.
There was not much interest in the Parliament. […] I’m told we need to stop this safe sport thing and go back to what sport really is
he said, referring to the celebration of sporting achievements.
CBC The News reached out to Prime Minister Trudeau’s office several times about the issue, but had not received a response by the time of this article’s publication.
Resistance in Canadian hockey
Hockey Canada’s next managers face big challenges.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Kirsty Duncan said a three-page letter sent by Hockey Canada to one of its top policy advisers reflected the tone of opposition she faced.
The letter, first reported by The Canadian Press, was written by Glenn McCurdy, then Hockey Canada’s vice-president of insurance and risk management. In this letter, Mr. McCurdie expressed his concerns about some of the policies implemented by Ms. Duncan.
Hockey Canada does not want to be burdened by a system or process that ties our hands and prevents us from managing the situation as we see fit. We ask that you consider this as we continue to guide our collective strategy for safe sport.
read Mr. McCurdie’s letter.
Ms. Duncan said she first read the letter last summer when the Hockey Canada controversy broke out.
” Hockey Canada has opposed the idea of a third-party investigator and a safe sports helpline. Who would do that? Who doesn’t want a child to pick up the phone and say, “I had a problem?” say »
To the email address CBCHockey Canada said the 2019 letter does not reflect the organization’s current thinking or direction.
Hockey Canada recognizes that we must do more to create a safe and positive environment for all participants on and off the ice.
– the organization wrote.
Based on text by Devin Heroux, CBC Sports
