Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada’s gymnastics group ought to be involved about convincing mother and father throughout the nation that the game is secure.
Trudeau responded to questions that the federal authorities had frozen funding for Gymnastics Canada.
Sports activities Minister Pascale St-Onge advised The Canadian Press on Thursday evening that she’s going to droop funding to the nationwide sports activities physique till it indicators off on the brand new workplace of the Sports activities Integrity Commissioner.
St-Onge not too long ago froze funding to Hockey Canada because the nationwide group handled an alleged sexual assault and out-of-court settlement.
Trudeau says he has had many conversations with the sports activities minister’s workplace in latest weeks about a number of nationwide sports activities organizations and their failure to stay as much as their accountability to “preserve our children secure and defend our athletes.”
“That is why we have made clear requests to Gymnastics Canada and others for extra transparency to take accountability measures as a result of sure, we have to proceed to help the game and there are such a lot of nice volunteers throughout the nation serving to younger individuals get entangled, keep wholesome and play sports activities.” he mentioned.
“However we want to verify we do it in a secure approach and we’ll proceed to guarantee that as a authorities and dealing with different authorities businesses we push for adjustments that ensure our youngsters are stored secure.”
SEE | Canadian gymnasts are calling for change:
Dozens of Canadian gymnasts have signed an open letter calling for an unbiased investigation into the continued poisonous tradition and abuse at Gymnastics Canada. In keeping with one professional who research abuse in sport, a part of the issue is the best way elite sport is funded based mostly on efficiency.
St-Onge is asking all nationwide sports activities organizations to hitch the brand new Workplace of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which started receiving complaints about abuse in sport on June 20.
Greater than 500 present and former gymnasts have referred to as on Sport Canada to conduct an unbiased investigation into their sport amid quite a few allegations of bodily, psychological and sexual abuse.
“The variety of younger kids wanting as much as sports activities figures when they’re in tough conditions or organizations not taking care of them correctly has a cascading impact on society. We all know we have to do extra and this authorities is ensuring it occurs,” mentioned Trudeau.
“However I actually need to commend all these mother and father throughout the nation who’ve spoken up, all these athletes who’ve bravely stood up, like all these gymnasts who’ve mentioned, ‘This has to cease.’ We should hear. We should act. And that is precisely what we’re doing.”
SEE | How Canadian novice sports activities received right here:
Dr. Carla Edwards says Canada’s sports activities system is in hassle however provides methods to repair it.