Advertisement

Quebec bill aims to better protect young athletes from abuse, harassment

Quebec Sports Minister Isabelle Charest speaks to members of the media after announcing sport management training funding Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in Montreal. Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
Click to play video: 'Hockey Canada faces reckoning over arrests in alleged 2018 sex assault'
Hockey Canada faces reckoning over arrests in alleged 2018 sex assault

Quebec’s sports minister has tabled a bill to strengthen protections for young athletes and create a new role to investigate complaints.

Isabelle Charest says Bill 45 would create a recreation and sport integrity ombudsperson to receive abuse and harassment complaints, launch investigations on their own and make recommendations.

Click to play video: 'McGill University testifies at Quebec hockey hazing hearings'
McGill University testifies at Quebec hockey hazing hearings

The bill, which amends an existing law on safety in sports, guarantees protections for complainants and removes a 120-day limit to file a complaint.

Story continues below advertisement

Charest says the ombudsperson role will replace the office of the independent complaints officer, set up three years ago to deal with abuse cases.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The bill would also tighten police background checks for anyone working with minors or who is in regular contact with them.

Click to play video: 'Preliminary inquiry begins for former hockey and basketball coach Robert Litvack'
Preliminary inquiry begins for former hockey and basketball coach Robert Litvack

A recent report from the Education Department identified problems with the criminal background verification process.

In a social media post, Premier François Legault said that volunteers — coaches, referees and other professionals — should be applauded for their work in youth sport. But he added that the government wants additional tools to protect young people from a “few bad apples.”

Click to play video: 'Legault calls coach sex-assault charges at Quebec school “totally unacceptable’'
Legault calls coach sex-assault charges at Quebec school “totally unacceptable’

Sponsored content

AdChoices