Anne Merklinger says the recent safe sports problems plaguing Canadian athletes are the result of a larger problem that should be ignored.

The CEO of The Own The Podium told a parliamentary hearing Monday that the organization would support a public inquiry into sport in Canada that is about more than just safe sport.

Merklinger's response came after NDP MP Peter Julian questioned what the federal government should do to ensure financial transparency, and whether the government should demand victims' ability to speak out if they choose and ensure organizations do not enforce confidentiality agreements.

“We as leaders bear responsibility for what happened and we all bear responsibility to make sure it doesn't happen again,” Merklinger said. “I believe the issues related to safe sport are a symptom of a much larger problem for the sport system in Canada due to a lack of resources, a lack of leadership and being highly fragmented.

“We would certainly support an investigation that examines the entire sports system…Where there are opportunities for improved alignment, increased resources and stronger leadership.”

Former sports minister Kirsty Duncan is among those demanding an inquiry into safe sport in Canada.

Canadian Center for Sports Ethics president and CEO Jeremy Luke and values-based sports executive director Karri Dawson and Sport'Aide executive director Sylvain Croteau also testified before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Monday.

Like Merklinger, Croteau advocates looking at the entire Canadian sports system.

“I want to question, not only the financial aspects of the Canadian sports system but also question the entire system as a whole,” he said. “And why can't we think of a forum where we will gather all stakeholders from different environments, from different strata of the sports system?

“We believe that we should always speak to the national federations, but our sports organizations, our local organizations must be listened to. They need to be involved, our athletes need to be heard and we have to give it our all.”

Conservative MP Kevin Waugh stated “I'm a big fan of Own The Podium” before going on to say that he was “disturbed” to see funding given to Canada Soccer, Hockey Canada, and Gymnastics Canada — all of which have headlined the issue of safe sports in Canada.

“Of course, the three examples you provided are all of concern to us and in all three examples we have established funding requirements to ensure that sports organizations address the deficiencies that were uncovered,” Merklinger responded.

In consultation with national sport organizations, which oversee the competitive lives of athletes, the OTP made funding recommendations that directed approximately $70 million of Sport Canada money to the NSO for athletes with medal potential, while also providing technical advice to the NSO.

Regarding the backlash they faced for making results their top priority, Merklinger said the organization is meant to help athletes.

“OTP was founded at the request of athletes who complained that the sports system was underfunded and they were not receiving the support other countries needed to give their athletes,” he said. “This is an obstacle for them in achieving their goals.

“OTP is mandated by Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee to help athletes get everything they need to achieve their goals.

“It was never intended to put a person's well-being first. That person should come first in all things.”

Merklinger said OTP's goals are “future-oriented,” working with sports organizations that “have more than an eight-year lifespan for athletes on track.” Referring to the idea that the assistance provided was for athletes to achieve their own goals and had been accepted by the athlete group, he later added that changes had been made.

“Our outreach to diverse groups of athletes over the last two years has been much stronger than before,” Merklinger said. “We recently reformed our governance model to have two athlete directors who are full members and have equal voting rights on the board.

“We have an athlete advisory council that we created so that we can listen and reach out to a stronger athlete voice so that we conduct consultations on a stronger basis in the future.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.