Carla Qualtrough inherits safe sport crisis upon return as sports minister

Federal sports minister Carla Qualtrough says she knows what's required to solve Canada's safe sport crisis. The how is still a work in progress.

The Delta-MP was re-appointed sports minister this summer eight years after she was first assigned the portfolio in 2015.

The lawyer and visually-impaired former Paralympic swimmer moved onto other cabinet positions after two years in sports.

Qualtrough returns to the file a more seasoned cabinet minister, and amid what her predecessor Pascale St-Onge has called a safe sport crisis.

Two parliamentary committees have heard testimony in recent months from tearful athletes describing sexual, physical and verbal abuse they've experienced pursuing their sport, and their fears of retribution if reported to their organizational leaders.

Heads of national sport organizations have been called on the carpet by Heritage and Status of Women committees and grilled over their leadership. Hockey Canada, Gymnastics Canada and Canada Soccer were among them.

WATCH | CBC Sports' safe sport in Canada panel discussion:

Qualtrough will speak Friday in Calgary at Hockey Canada's "Beyond The Boards Summit" which will tackle toxic masculinity.

During her first weeks back in the sports ministry, Qualtrough says she's read the committees' testimonies and spoken with abuse survivors, athletes, parents, experts, national sports organizations and advocates.

"What I've heard very clearly is about the need for systemic change within sport, that our system isn't sufficiently protecting our kids," she said. "It's not sufficiently holding leaders and organizations to account, and that culture change is needed."

Before St-Onge shifted to Heritage minister, she introduced in May a slate of sport reforms that