FAQ
Following are frequently asked questions. If they do not answer your questions specifically send us a note and we will get back to you with the answers: info@truesport.ca.
- What is the Canadian Strategy for Ethical Conduct in Sport?
- What are some of the objectives of the Strategy?
- Why was the Strategy created?
- What is the Strategy's vision?
- Who manages the Strategy?
- Who is on the Steering Committee?
- What kind of issues will the Strategy be working on?
- How can I support the Strategy?
What is the Canadian Strategy for Ethical Conduct in Sport?
The Canadian Strategy for Ethical Conduct in Sport is a national initiative that focuses attention on wide array of ethical issues that are reflected in sport. The Strategy is a collaborative undertaking by the federal, provincial and territorial governments along with a number of leading sport organizations. Its goals include reducing and preventing unethical behaviours in sport, increasing ethical conduct in sport and creating and sustaining a supportive environment within Canadian sport for ethical conduct.
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What are some of the objectives of the Strategy?
Some of the objectives of the Strategy are:
- promoting the pursuit of excellence in sport by fair and ethical means;
- fostering the next generation of value-based leaders in Canadian Sport;
- elevating the consideration of ethical conduct in sport among all stakeholders in sport so that all decisions are made in the context of a common ethical basis;
- engaging governments and all sectors of sport communities in promoting a safe, fair and ethical environment for sport for all through the coordinated and collaborative implementation of policies and programs;
- establishing the recognition within sport communities and the general population that sport is firmly entrenched in a strong ethical foundation as expressed in the expectations for fairness of the “London Declaration”.
Why was the Strategy created?
The Mills Report, published in 1998 reflected a number of issues related to enhancing the role and contribution of sport to society. One of the key elements was the desire of the sport community and of Canadians to increase attention to ethical issues in sport.
This interest was re-enforced in the consultations held throughout Canada in 2000 and 2001 in relation to the development of the Canadian Sport Policy, in which the following priorities were expressed:
- ensure that participation in sport is safe and healthy;
- meet the unique needs of women, Aboriginals and under-represented groups;
- integrate sport for people with a disability with able-bodied sport;
- ensure that high performance athletes develop holistically, as well as athletically;
- eradicate doping, violence and harassment from sport;
- help the sport community deal with disputes and conflict of interest issues;
reward good sportsmanship; - educate and promote fair play at all levels of participation;
- develop a relationship with professional sport in order to promote ethical behaviour.
What is the Strategy's vision?
The Vision is that, by 2012:
- There is a firm and public commitment to the principle that lasting and meaningful athletic performance can only be achieved through fair means.
- Participants in sport and physical activity do so in a manner that adheres to the highest ethical principles.
- Those who participate in sport receive from their fellow athletes, coaches and officials, and parents/guardians and spectators, fairness and ethical treatment in a safe and welcoming sport environment, free of harassment and abuse.
- Their sport system advances the widest array of athletic goals of all participants, with or without disability, free from discrimination and barriers based on personal circumstances.
- Spectators to sport events witness the activities without being subjected to abuse, interference or violence from others.
- Coaches are appropriately valued by their athletes, and their athletes’ parents/guardians and supporters, they receive fair treatment and respect for their valuable contribution to sport, and they are free of harassment and threats of violence under any circumstance.
- Sport officials are respected for their decisions by athletes, coaches, parents/ guardians and spectators and are not interfered with in the execution of their duties.
- Sport volunteers are respected and recognized for their efforts to make sport participation possible and rewarding for athletes of all ages.
- Parents/guardians are assured that their children participating in sport receive fair treatment from coaches, volunteers and spectators.
- The sport system provides just treatment in cases of disputes in sport and there are proper and accessible mechanisms available to resolve disputed issues through due process in a timely manner.
- Athletes, coaches and team officials representing Canada in the international sport arena conduct themselves, in both victory and defeat, in a manner that brings pride to all.
- Sport organizations in receipt of public funding are fully accountable for the use of such resources and are transparent and democratic in their organizational life.
Who manages the Strategy?
A Steering Committee is responsible for managing the implementation of the True Sport Strategy. This includes a broad range of activities including:
- providing direction to the True Sport Secretariat in its implementation of its Action Plan;
- coordinating and integrating initiatives undertaken throughout the sport community for the successful implementation of the Strategy’s vision, goals and objectives;
- ensuring accountability to the sport community and governments.
Who is on the Steering Committee?
A group of leading sport organizations play an important role in providing leadership and counsel to the Strategy. To date, the Steering Committee members include:
- Canadian Olympic Committee
- Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport
- AthletesCAN
- Sport Canada
- Skate Canada
- Sports Officials Canada
- Direction de la promotion de la sécurité, Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport
- Speed Skating Canada
- Physical and Health Education Canada
- Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
- Coaching Association of Canada
- Canadian Council of Provincial/Territorial Federations
- Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation
- Sport Manitoba
- True Sport Secretariat
What kind of issues will the Strategy be working on?
The scope of issues being addressed is defined quite broadly to include the wide array of current and emerging issues of concern in sport throughout Canada. These issues are captured under the following titles:
- health and safety;
- fair play;
- doping-free sport;
- anti-harassment and abuse;
- counselling and rehabilitation;
- anti-violence;
- procedural fairness;
- transparency and accountability;
- management / stewardship of sport;
- equity and access / diversity;
- anti-racism;
- English and French languages;
- athlete centeredness;
- environmental sustainability.
How can I support the Strategy?
There are a number of initiatives, activities, programs and services that have been identified within the Strategy's Action Plan. Given that the Strategy fosters a partnership approach to meet its objectives, interested organizations can contribute to the Strategy by:
- participating in the coordination/ implementation of one of the activities within the action plan;
- reviewing their organization’s objectives to ensure they support and contribute to the Strategy;
- join the True Sport Movement and help us show all Canadians that sport is providing a positive, meaningful and enriching experience for all.
