CHPC Committee Report

June 21, 2017

Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage

Study: “Canadian Women and Girls in Sport”

Supplementary report by the New Democratic Party

The New Democratic Party would like to thank all of the witnesses who took the time to share their views on Canadian women and girls in sport. We are convinced that this exercise was beneficial and informative for all the political parties and believe it important to note the great enthusiasm and interest shown by each member of this committee to promote the accessibility and practice of sport for all Canadians. The consensus on almost all the recommendations reflects the willingness of all parties to produce a constructive and useful report for decision-makers.

Nonetheless, the NDP deplores that no mention was made of the harassment of women and girls over a seven year period at the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).[1] In September 2015, an internal investigation was launched into a complaint alleging sexual harassment against COC board president Marcel Aubut.[2] The report on the COC’s internal investigation, released in January 2016, found that the board had been aware of Mr. Aubut’s behaviour since 2008.[3]

The report made a series of recommendations to the COC to restore confidence and introduce best practices for workplace harassment prevention and resolution.[4] Jean-Luc Brassard, Canada’s chef de mission for the 2016 Rio Olympics, publicly criticized the COC’s board of directors and management for their lack of transparency and inaction on harassment prevention and resolution.[5] Unable to get any satisfactory answers about the COC’s failings in recent years, Jean-Luc Brassard resigned in April 2016 as Canada’s chef de mission for the 2016 Olympic Games.[6]

In June 2016, the Committee on Canadian Heritage began its study on Canadian women and girls in sport following the COC’s appearance before the committee to brief members on its preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. During the COC’s appearance, the committee focussed its questions to the COC on preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The COC’s new workplace harassment and resolution policy and its expected results were not discussed.

Therefore, the New Democratic Party recommends that the COC report the changes it made to its workplace harassment and resolution policy and the results achieved since its introduction to the Committee on Canadian Heritage and the Department of Canadian Heritage.