Canadian sport needs an overhaul.
That's the conclusion of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission's final report released Tuesday.
"The work must begin now," said Lise Maisonneuve, a former chief justice of the Ontario court of justice, who headed the commission.
"Our review has revealed the Canadian sport system is broken, fragmented and in its present form, unsustainable.
"In many settings, and for far too many people, it has caused and continues to cause real lasting harm."
The commission's mandate was to make the Canadian sport system better and safer.
"As we discovered in our work, these two matters are deeply interconnected," Maisonneuve said.
Announced in December 2023 by former federal sports minister Carla Qualtrough, the commission was among various federal government remedies in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports, both current and historical, that surfaced after the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing
The commission held cross-country consultations, conducted a public survey, held a summit and issued two public reports over nearly two years.
Maisonneuve said the commission heard submissions from over 1,000 individuals, including 175 survivors of abuse and maltreatment.
"We listened and what we heard was heart-wrenching," she said.
The report issued 98 calls to action for phased-in change over five years, starting immediately.
Immediate actions include consolidating leadership, establishing one entity to oversee sport, increasing funding to high-performance and community sport, and greater collaboration among federal, provincial and territorial governments to make sport safer.
The report calls for a single federal minister responsible for sport and activity supported by a single department. Sport currently falls under both the Heritage and Health portfolios.
The report also states there should be a centralized sport entity overseeing sport as a Crown corporation, which is structured like a private corporation, but under government control.
"We need a new model of leadership," Maisonneuve said.
"Sport in Canada stands at a defining moment. Canadians expect meaningful and concrete transformation."
Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden said in a statement that the report makes clear that urgent, system-wide action is needed.
"We accept the findings and will now carefully review the recommendations and actions that must be taken to strengthen safe sport and improve the sport system at all levels in Canada," he said.
"Abuse and maltreatment have no place in sport. Sport participants should have access to safe, welcoming, inclusive, and accountable sport environments that uphold public trust.
"We recognize that restoring trust in the sport system requires meaningful, co-ordinated action across all levels."
There have been eight changes in the federal leadership of sport over 15 years of Liberal government.
Van Koeverden, who was appointed last year, said the report "will shape the next chapter of sport in Canada."
"It also shows that we need to fix bigger, system-wide problems, including how sport is managed across the country and gaps in safety protections," he continued. "It was the voices of survivors that broke the culture of silence. Their time, insights, and lived experiences have created a pathway forward for a better Canada."
"Our new government will now focus on developing our response and implementation plan, working closely with the provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, athletes, under-represented communities, sport organizations and private sector stakeholders nationwide. This work will be grounded in stronger coordination, transparency, and accountability across the sport system."
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
