Letter to the Prime Minister
TO: THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JUSTIN TRUDEAU, P.C., M.P. PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA
Dear Prime Minister,
It is with heavy hearts that we share recent news of yet another gymnastics coach arrested on multiple sexual abuse charges against children in Ottawa and Kingston. This marks the third Canadian gymnastics coach in 6 months arrested for sexual abuse.
Shocking only to those who are not familiar with sport policy, this coach was quietly suspended by the Ontario Gymnastics Federation in April 2022. However, news reports indicate that Gymnastics Ontario had received allegations regarding this coach’s conduct as early as October 2021 which were not acted on. Neither the gymnastics community nor the public were made aware of the coach’s identity or the risks he posed until he was charged this month. As a result, in the 16 months between October 2021 and his recent arrest, he could have coached, unrestricted, anywhere in Canada, in any sport, committing further crimes against children.
Police suspect additional victims and are calling on them to come forward. Sadly, the initial abuse is only the first layer of damage to be done. These brave children and their families must now endure a criminal proceeding. If the justice system fails the gymnasts, which historically it has, they will go through an arduous sport disciplinary process with the hope of preventing further abuse. Combined, these processes take upwards of 5 years.
Rather than asking any more children to sacrifice their childhoods in the name of sport or justice, we again implore you to initiate a national judicial inquiry into the Canadian sport system.
50 years of human rights violations and inadequate child protection in sport has had a devastating effect on the physical and mental health of thousands of Canadians. Canada is at a critical crossroads, where future child abuse and human rights violations could be prevented if bold, innovative action is taken.
For the past 11 months, Gymnasts for Change Canada has met with the Honourable Sport Minister, members of her team, Members of Parliament, Parliamentary Committees, and the Sport Integrity Commissioner. With harm occurring at every level, across all jurisdictions, and perpetuated by a complicated entanglement of self-interested individuals, none of Canada’s current mechanisms provide adequate remedy. We believe the leaders we have met with, agree with this assessment.
A complaint mechanism, such as the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, will not prevent abuse, nor will “new” sport policies that merely tinker with our broken system. And please, do not let anyone tell you we simply need to educate our coaches to behave better. Adults already know they should not scream at children, ignore doctors’ orders, inflict physical pain to the point of sobbing, send suggestive, naked photos and above all, sexually assault children.
Survivors can point to the systemic rot that must be uncovered and investigated. To ignore the past is to risk repeating it. To do anything less than a judicial inquiry is negligent. A modern judicial inquiry means collaborating with stakeholders, including survivors, in a trauma informed manner, to ensure:
Dysfunctional systems are assessed from top government agencies down to grassroots organizations, including Sport Canada, Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee, and National and Provincial Sport Organizations;
An accountability framework is developed to identify abusers and enablers and ensure they are removed from the sport system; and
Recommendations and mandates for reform of the sport system are implemented, including a legal framework for increased child protection measures and the upholding of athletes’ human rights.
The calls for sport reform go well beyond gymnastics. Stories of injustice and abuse in so many sports keep coming to light, week after week, and we expect this will continue. Canada’s sport issues go far beyond removing a few bad actors or running educational workshops. Without a judicial inquiry, the full extent of systemic corruption plaguing our athletes remains unknown. Canadians know from recent media reports that egregious financial mismanagement, gender based violence, conflicts of interest, misuse of power, retaliation, discrimination, exploitation, and racism have flourished for decades. And yet, despite immense public scrutiny, there has been little accountability and no justice.
The Hon. Sport Minister’s testimony at the Status of Women Parliamentary Committee hearing was encouraging, as is her willingness to look at all available options. Minister St. Onge is correct: urgent action is required. It is a tragedy that abuse in gymnastics and other sports has been the centerpiece of national media for a year, yet still no decision on a judicial inquiry has been made.
When will government make its position clear? How many more children will be abused before a judicial inquiry is called? The dysfunctional Canadian sport system is becoming an international embarrassment, when in fact, Canada could lead global sport reform by setting the international standard for how children and athletes will be treated. That would be a legacy to be proud of.
A roadmap for a judicial inquiry into sport abuse has been drafted with input from a former Supreme Court Justice, legal experts, athletes, survivors, and academic scholars. We would be pleased to share any information you deem helpful for initiating a modern judicial Inquiry.
Thank you for your attention to this crisis. We await your response.
Yours sincerely,
Gymnasts for Change Canada