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House Hansard - 259

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 30, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 259 - Nov/30/23
Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, Lib.)
  • Nov/30/23 7:07:13 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak with my friend and colleague about this very important issue and to have the opportunity to address the House of Commons this evening. Our government strongly believes that Canadians deserve a sport system that reflects and celebrates our Canadian values of equality, fairness and inclusion, a sport system that is safe for kids and all Canadians. I might just add on a personal note that one of the first times I came to the House of Commons in a work context was two years before I got elected. That was to work on the first iteration of Canada's new safe sport policy. It is hard to overstate how much I care about this issue. I was on a national team for 18 years, and sport is very special to me. It is something that transcends borders and a lot of issues. In order for it to do its great work, it needs to have integrity. I am here as a member of Parliament for a lot of reasons and for a lot of people, but this issue is one that I care deeply about. We have heard loud and clear about the need for systemic change in sport. Sport systems in Canada and around the world are going through turbulent times, and indeed it is a time when trust in our leaders and our sports organizations has collapsed. In recent years, we have made some really important advancements. It is so important we recognize progress when we see it. In the hopes of allowing victims to come forward without fear and intimidation, we have taken some really tremendous steps. We are indebted to the survivors who have bravely come forward, and I want to thank them. We acknowledge their courage, and we hear them loud and clear. While they should not have had to come forward, their advocacy has really turned this into a national conversation and a sincere priority. A key element of our response has been the development of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport, or UCCMS. This is a primary example of the positive momentum that can be created when our government works closely with its partners. In this case, I am referring to national sports leaders and experts. The result of this collaboration, the UCCMS, is the basic document that establishes the harmonized rules adopted by sports organizations that receive funding from the Government of Canada to ensure a respectful sport culture that delivers high-quality, inclusive, accessible, welcoming and safe sport experiences. Since its establishment in June 2021, the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner has been responsible for administering the UCCMS and overseeing complaints of maltreatment. The office uses trauma-informed processes that are compassionate and efficient and that provide fairness, respect and equity to all partners involved. The office functions independently and without any influence from the Government of Canada or Sport Canada. These measures are part of the solution. All leaders in the field must share responsibility for ensuring a safe sporting environment. Our government will continue to engage its provincial and territorial partners in promoting harmonization, which is essential for the change of culture that we all want to see. We are committed to ensuring that all Canadians experience sports environments free of all forms of maltreatment. Since 2018, we have worked to ensure safe, welcoming and inclusive sport environments for all by requiring that federally funded organizations take measures—
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