Addressing athlete abuse in Canadian sport requires internal change and external investigators

Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) is an important first step, but for meaningful change to take place the federal government must embrace an independent, third-party judicial inquiry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian sport is in crisis. Reports of misconduct are making headlines with troubling regularity. Many sports federations under the purview of Sport Canada appear saturated with harassment, bullying and abuse.

In response the Government of Canada has created a new Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC). Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge believes OSIC, which began work earlier this year, provides athletes with a reporting structure capable of addressing the mounting allegations.