Report calls for sweeping changes to address abuse in Canadian sports

After a two-year study of abuse in sports, a parliamentary committee is calling for sweeping changes to better protect athletes from sexual and physical abuse — including mandatory criminal record checks for all officials, coaches and volunteers and a new database to search past complaints, arrests and convictions.

The standing committee on Canadian heritage is also calling on the federal government to make national sport organizations more transparent by — among other things — requiring that top executives' salaries and funds, and all minutes of board meetings, be made public.

"Throughout this study, the committee has observed firsthand the gaps in the system which have allowed for these unacceptable situations to occur," says final report, which offers more than 20 recommendations.

"It has also directly witnessed some of the governance issues affecting many [national sport organizations] across Canada."

The committee heard from more than 100 witnesses — including current and former athletes, representatives of sport organizations and experts — during two dozen meetings about sports abuse in Canada.

Testimony uncovered what some described as a "toxic culture" in sport that emphasizes winning medals while fostering a climate where athletes are afraid to report abuse because of shame or the threat of reprisals.

The committee launched its probe in 2022 in response to Hockey Canada quietly settling a group sexual assault case out of court — with a non-disclosure agreement limiting what the victim could say publicly.

Police have since charged five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident in London, Ont. after a Hockey Canada event.

The Hockey Canada