As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That all organizations in Canada receiving federal money require a vulnerable sector police check for all volunteers, coaches and employees in contact with athletes and that an audit mechanism be set up to prove that such checks have been carried out.

Recommendation 2

That the government of Canada amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act, and that all aspects related to physical activity be the responsibility of Health Canada, with the aim of greater accessibility to sports and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits.

Recommendation 3

That the House of Commons ask the Office of the Auditor General to:

• Conduct a comprehensive audit of the programs of Canadian Heritage pertaining to sports;
• Grant a mandate for a special examination of the responsibilities it finances and delegates to “Own the Podium”, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, the Sport Information Resource Centre, the SDRCC, and the OSIC.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada mandate NSOs to adopt increased financial transparency by comprehensively disclosing all funds at their disposal along with a description of their usage. This measure aims to promote responsible financial management within sports organizations, thereby enhancing trust among the public, partners (sponsors), and all stakeholders. Complete fund disclosure will also contribute to ensuring equitable resource distribution, fostering greater fairness within the Canadian sports community.

• By adding an item to clearly indicate the amounts received in different types of funds:
• Government Grants: Federal, provincial, or municipal governments may provide grants to sports organizations to support specific programs, sports infrastructure, or talent development.
• Sponsorship and Partnership Funds: Sports organizations can establish partnerships with businesses and sponsors that provide funds in exchange for visibility or other promotional benefits.
• Donations and Fundraising: Sports organizations can solicit donations from the public, members, or local businesses. Fundraising events may also be organized for specific events or projects.
• Membership Fees and Registration Fees: Sports organizations may collect membership fees from their members or registration fees to participate in competitions or sports events.
• Development Funds: Some sports organizations may have access to development funds aimed at supporting training, coach education, and athlete development.
• Capital Funds: These funds are often used for the construction, renovation, or maintenance of sports infrastructure such as stadiums, arenas, or training facilities.
• Equity Funds: Sports organizations can raise funds by issuing shares or stocks, allowing investors to own a part of the organization.
• Public-Private Partnership Funds: Some sports infrastructure projects can be funded through public-private partnerships, where the private sector invests in the project in collaboration with the public sector.
• By adding an item to clearly inform members of funds used for legal services and advice.
• By transparently disclosing elements of the payroll and salaries of top executives.
• By adding to their websites the list of all contractors who have carried out third-party independent mandates, a declaration of the absence of conflicts of interest, the granted amount, and the hourly rate.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada mandate NSOs to publish on their website a complete copy of the members’ master insurance policy so that members can better understand the coverage provided for their sports activities.

Recommendation 6

That Sport Canada require organizations receiving funds from the federal government, particularly those administering programs on behalf of Sport Canada such as “Own the Podium,” “Safe Sport” or any other program like the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, the Coaching Association of Canada or the Sport Information Resource Centre, to proactively disclose contracts over $5,000, travel expenses, conference fees, travel and hospitality expenses, and salaries of their executives. This would enhance the level of transparency and accountability.

Recommendation 7

That the Office of the Auditor General of Canada conduct a special audit of Sport Canada’s 2019 directive, which requires national sports organizations to integrate for-profit private firms as independent third parties in the complaint processes involving athletes and their sports organizations, and the audit should consider the following:

• The belief that “sport is unable to govern itself.”
• The poorly recognized and documented role of third parties in these processes.
• These actors wield influential roles in assessing an athlete’s environment or deciding on an athlete’s complaint.
• No independent and credible organization monitors the quality of their work, either through peer review or any other means to calibrate decisions.
• Given the legal standard of “balance of probabilities,” investigators assume a quasi-judicial role, while prevention should prevail, and a level similar to that of a social worker or police officer would be more appropriate.
• The Committee deems the situation very concerning and requires an overall assessment, making public the agreed-upon parameters between sports organizations and their independent third parties.
• The Auditor General’s office should prioritize the examination of the complaint handling mechanism assigned to independent third parties by NSOs, compared to the mechanism established by the OSIC to handle complaints from participants included in agreements between the OSIC and sports organizations.
• Additionally, it should assess whether these mechanisms adhere to the highest ethical standards.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with provinces and territories, and sports organizations, include athletes in all bodies and all decision-making processes regarding safe sports in Canada.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada require the board meeting minutes of all NSOs funded by the federal government to be transparent. They should be accessible to the public.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada collaborate with NSOs to ensure that the safety and specific needs of young athletes are met, including promoting gender equity and diversity by:

• including more women, girls, Black, Indigenous, and racialized people in leadership and decision-making roles; and
• protecting players who disclose mental health challenges from retribution.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada make available increased funding for safety in sport initiatives.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada work to improve harmonization with provinces and territories in relation to safe sport initiatives, including common messaging and principles.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada continue discussions with all levels of government across Canada to resolve jurisdictional issues and allow for a more transparent safe sport system.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada work to improve international engagement around the world and work to become a leader in safe sport.

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada establish a formal process to investigate sexual and physical abuse and maltreatment in Canada’s sport system, through a trauma-informed, survivor-focused lens.

Recommendation 16

That the Government of Canada strengthen whistleblower protection in the sports sector through the following actions:

• Making the use of retaliatory legal action against those who report abuse illegal by establishing anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) legislation; and
• Implementing initiatives that encourage reporting while ensuring the safety and confidentiality of those who come forward.

Recommendation 17

That the Government of Canada mandate the immediate establishment of a national public registry of coaches, officials and other staff who have been proven to have violated the UCCMS. This registry must:

• Be searchable and comprehensive;
• Include names, number of complaints and number of arrests and convictions; and
• Be easily accessible to anyone involved in the Canadian sport system.

Recommendation 18

That the Government of Canada suspend all federal funding given to NSOs who have not signed on to the Abuse-Free Sport program with the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner until they become signatories.

Recommendation 19

That the Government of Canada mandate NSOs to adopt guidelines regarding the appropriate and transparent use of reserve funds such as Hockey Canada’s National Equity Fund and Participants’ Legacy Trust Fund. NSOs must also be made to clearly display their expenditures and use of federal funds both to Sport Canada and to the public. These expenditures must:

• Be made freely available online; and
• Indicate how much is spent on bonuses and gifts, payments made in settlement cases, and funding allocations toward each program, fund, and initiative.

Recommendation 20

That the Government of Canada launch an independent public inquiry, pursuant to Part I of the Inquiries Act, to understand how existing sport structures have failed to ensure safe sports and led to abuse, discrimination, and maltreatment. The inquiry will:

• Gather survivor testimony to understand the scope of abuse and discrimination;
• Examine the role of Sport Canada in protecting and rewarding coaches/administrators at the expense of athlete safety;
• Scrutinize current funding, governance, oversight, and disciplinary structures; and
• Develop recommendations, including legal and policy changes, such as the potential creation of a national sporting discipline registry.

Recommendation 21

That the Government of Canada introduce legislation to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements for survivors who have reported maltreatment and that NSOs abide by this ban as a condition to receive funding from the federal government. The legislation will include but will not be limited to:

• providing transparency in hiring and firing practices if they require staff or coaches to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs);
• removing any clauses within athletes’ agreements that stop athletes from reporting sexual misconduct/abuse;
• enforcing the duty to report to allow criminal investigations to be opened;
• mandating NSOs to release survivors of sexual assault from NDAs so they can speak up and name perpetrators; and
• ensuring victims of sexual assault who received compensation are not required to sign binding NDAs.