Standing Committee on Health

Comité permanent de la santé

For immediate release

Ottawa, October 05, 2018 -

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health adopted a motion to establish a Subcommittee to undertake a study on sport-related concussions in Canada.

The Subcommittee will develop recommendations on how to better protect athletes from concussions and make sport safer for youth in Canada. As part of its study, the Subcommittee is looking forward to hearing from a broad range of stakeholders, including amateur and professional athletes, families, national sport organizations, and multi-sport organizations, athlete and coaching organizations, researchers and members of the medical community.

In announcing the creation of the Subcommittee, Bill Casey, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health said that he’s “pleased to see the creation of a subcommittee on an issue that affects many Canadians. This is truly a non-partisan issue, and this subcommittee will give MPs from all parties the time they need to study this important issue, to engage with Canadians on further actions the government can make, and to deliver strong recommendations.”

Both Vice-Chairs of the Standing Committee have also expressed their support for the Subcommittee’s study. Vice-Chair Don Davies noted that, “with 210,000 incidents reported every year in Canada, concussions are a serious risk for athletes in any sport. New Democrats hope that this study will lead to improved concussion prevention and treatment across Canada.”

Vice-Chair Marylin Gladu concurred with Mr. Davies sentiments, emphasizing that: “sport-related concussions directly impact Canadians from all corners of our country and I am looking forward to the Subcommittee’s upcoming study and report. While we encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, we must also do everything in our power to raise awareness about the dangers associated with sport-related concussions as well as their symptoms. With up to one in five Canadians having suffered concussions while playing sports, the majority of who were under the age of 18, urgent action is needed to protect our athletes and our youth.”

The Subcommittee is expected to hold its first meeting on October 31, 2018 with witness hearings beginning in mid-November. The Subcommittee’s report on its findings and recommendations will be tabled in the House of Commons by the Standing Committee on Health by June 2019.