Canadian Heritage committee  No. I don't think they should be used at all, because at the end of the day it serves not the players nor the youth. It serves the image.

Canadian Heritage committee  —in sports? Yes, I did, based on how you have to protect the image of the team so—

Canadian Heritage committee  You mean non-disclosure—

Canadian Heritage committee  Here's the main problem. When a young person or their family files a complaint, there will often have been no overt physical violence. In fact, it's very rare. Emotional blackmail often involves a bond of trust or love. There are also the bonds forged when parents have blind faith in the coach.

Canadian Heritage committee  In a way, Canada is a forerunner in that respect. Given all the legislative challenges that exist between provincial, national and international jurisdictions, it's really necessary to go much further than what the Criminal Code currently offers. Otherwise, we won't be able to take into account the full social context in which sexual violence occurs.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's essential that the Department of Canadian Heritage no longer be responsible for managing sport. It has to be the Department of Health, simply because we need to set up integrated support mechanisms within teams and a service corridor that facilitates and enables young people to get help as soon as they need it.

Canadian Heritage committee  Right now, people are only keeping silent about these issues of violence because we have no mechanism that captures the complex situation of the instigators and victims of this form of violence. Allow me to explain. National tournaments are held in various provinces, and there are international tournaments too.

Canadian Heritage committee  Often, what people tend to say, with no real legal basis, is that the right to privacy trumps young victims' right to safety or freedom of speech. In my opinion, this is a fundamental human rights issue, because at the end of the day, adults in positions of authority are being allowed to act with impunity, and that's unacceptable.

Canadian Heritage committee  First, we have to redefine the very meaning of what we want to protect. Personally, I think it should no longer be an organization's image or reputation, but rather young people's integrity. That's why the group La voix des jeunes compte is calling for legislation on this issue.

Canadian Heritage committee  A member of my family played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s and 1950s. It's fascinating to see that things haven't changed much. It's the loved ones who fund sport, and the family has to make a lot of sacrifices. In my opinion, it's a major financial challenge. You can see that college and professional sports teams are businesses.

Canadian Heritage committee  Obviously, any player who has gone through the entire process of becoming a professional is essentially an expert in their sport. As such, they have a lot to say and they have a voice. They should play a more central role in the emerging decision-making process. They're heroes and role models for generations of young people who want to follow in their footsteps as they grow up.

Canadian Heritage committee  Good morning. My name is Mélanie Lemay. I'm a Ph.D. student in sociology and co-founder of Québec contre les violences sexuelles. When it comes to hockey and football, for much of my youth and professional life, I have witnessed the consequences of toxic culture in sport. Over the years, a number of men have confided to me that they were traumatized by what was done to them when they were young during hazing activities, and by what they had to do to others for fear of what would happen to them if they refused.