The SDRCC Publishes a Summary Report on Consultations Regarding the Safe Sport Mechanism 

Montréal (Québec) – The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) today released its summary report on the national consultations recently held on the implementation of the independent safe sport mechanism.

The first of three key commitments of the SDRCC in the process of setting up the new mechanism was to conduct a comprehensive national consultation. All sport organizations funded by the Government of Canada were invited to take part in group discussions between August and October 2021. A total of 21 focus group sessions were held virtually, involving 77 national sport organizations, multisport service organizations, and national sport centres and institutes.

In early December, a draft summary report was shared with all focus group participants for their review and validation. Additional meetings were held with government officials and sports leaders in each province and territory.

"This report is a true reflection of the great collaboration between sport organizations across the country that we have been privileged to witness in recent months," said Marie-Claude Asselin, Chief Executive Officer of the SDRCC. “It demonstrates the determination of all parties involved to achieve the primary goal of this new mechanism: to ensure that sport experiences across the country take place in a safe, fun and welcoming environment for all participants."

The next steps for the SDRCC will be to update the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport, and then to hire by end of February 2022 the first Sport Integrity Commissioner.

If all goes according to plan, the new Independent Safe Sport Mechanism will welcome the first signatories to the program by the end of March 2022.

About SDRCC
The SDRCC is a not-for-profit corporation created by federal legislation and funded by the Government of Canada. The mission of the SDRCC is to provide the sport community with a national alternative dispute resolution service and strengthen the culture of fairness in Canadian sport by resolving disputes quickly and efficiently and to provide expertise and assistance regarding alternative dispute resolution. The SDRCC is also mandated by the Government of Canada to implement an independent safe sport mechanism at the national level.

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For more information, please contact:

Marie-Claude Asselin
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 1-866-733-7767
Mobile: (514) 465-7339
mcasselin @ crdsc-sdrcc.ca