Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee

The Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee (the Committee) is an important initiative to ensure that athletes’ perspectives and advice inform the activities of the Government of Canada. The Minister of Sport and Physical Activity will engage the Committee to identify opportunities to incorporate high performance athletes’ perspectives in the development and implementation of Government of Canada programs and policies in sport and physical activity.

On this page

• Terms of reference
  • Mandate
  • Composition
  • Eligibility
  • Duration
  • Principles
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Governance
  • Confidentiality
  • Remuneration and funding
  • Conflict of interest
• Members

Terms of reference

As the single largest investor in the Canadian sport system, the Government of Canada, through Sport Canada, continues to advocate for increased participation of athletes and the inclusion of their diverse voices in the governance of the Canadian sport system.

High performance athletes are at the pinnacle of the Canadian sport system having moved from community level participation to high performance competition. That path has provided a range of lived experiences and a unique perspective of the sport system, on and off the field of play.

The perspectives of high-performance athletes are represented in the sport system through the mandate of AthletesCAN and on various committees and boards of National Sport and Multisport Service organizations. However, athletes continue to advocate for a more consistent position and voice in discussions and decisions across the Canadian sport system, including on issues related to athletes’ safety and wellbeing.

Mandate

The Committee provides advice and guidance to inform Government of Canada’s activities.

The Minister will engage the Committee to identify opportunities to incorporate athletes’ perspectives in the development and implementation of Government of Canada programs and policies in sport and physical activity. The Minister and the Committee Secretariat (the Secretariat) will also seek input from members on topics for discussion. Topics could include:

• Canadian Sport Policy
• High Performance Strategy
• funding programs, including the Athlete Assistance Program, Sport Support Program, and Hosting Program
• sport system governance and accountability
• athlete representation
• athlete wellness and transition
• equity, diversity and inclusion
• safe sport

Composition

The Committee may have up to 14 active athlete members, including:

• the President (or designate) of the AthletesCAN Board of Directors
• the Chair (or designate) of the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission
• the Chair (or designate) of the Canadian Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council
• nine other high-performance athletes identified through an application process (as defined below)
  • member of a Senior National Team for one of the federally funded National Sport Organizations (as an individual or on a team)
  • athlete whose sport has a world championship competition (whether Canada sends a contingent or not)
  • active athlete or retired within the last 8 years

On an ongoing basis, the Secretariat aims to ensure the Committee’s membership is reflective of Canada’s diversity with respect to its regions, official languages, ethnicities, cultures, disabilities and life experiences.

Eligibility

Committee members must:

1. be at least 18 years of age
2. be a high-performance athlete (as defined below)
3. not be convicted or otherwise sanctioned for:
   1. a doping offence pursuant to the World Anti Doping Code or Canadian Anti-doping Program Rules
   2. any other offence or breach of any policies or rules of the Athletes Assistance Program (if a carded athlete) and/or a National Sport Organization

Duration

The designated athletes representing AthletesCAN, the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council will be filled by the Minister (or designate) according to their respective terms with their originating committee.

Each member identified through application processes may serve for a term of 2 years, with the opportunity to be considered for 1 additional term.

Principles

The Committee operates according to the following fundamental principles:

• all members must adhere to the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport to foster an environment that is free from all forms of maltreatment and that treats every individual with dignity and respect
• members have the right to express themselves in the official language of their choice
• members are expected to respect differing perspectives, to listen openly to new ideas, and to speak from their own experience

Roles and responsibilities

Committee members:

• provide the athletes’ perspectives to Sport Canada’s current or contemplated policies, programs and decisions
• liaise between their athlete networks and the Committee to convey athletes’ views to the Minister

The Committee will meet in person or virtually every 3 months on an ongoing basis. As needed, ad hoc meetings may be organized to address emerging or time-sensitive issues.

Governance

Committee meeting discussions are nonbinding, non attributable, and recorded in a meeting summary by the secretariat. The summaries will be shared with the Minister, her office, and with the Committee for feedback and adjustment before the next meeting.

Confidentiality

Members may be advised that certain content discussed or shared with the Committee may be confidential or embargoed. When indicated that information is confidential or under embargo, members shall not disclose Committee documents or information to any other person unless:

1. the Minister authorizes such disclosure (directly to the Committee or through the secretariat)
2. the Committee agrees that such disclosure is necessary or desirable to advance its work
3. the matter is in the public domain
4. such disclosure is required by applicable law

Remuneration and funding

Membership on the Committee does not constitute employment with the Government of Canada. Members are not remunerated for their participation on the Committee.

While the majority of meetings are virtual, the Government of Canada covers appropriate travel and accommodation expenses for any in-person meetings according to the National Joint Council’s Directive on Travel.

Conflict of interest

Conflict of interest is a situation in which a person is in a position to derive personal benefit from actions or decisions made in their capacity. If Committee members anticipate an actual or perceived conflict of interest in their capacity on the Committee, they must declare it to the Co-Chairs and/or the Secretariat immediately.

Members

The members of the Ministerial Athlete Advisory Committee are:

• Javier Acevedo – Swimming
• Rob Armstrong – Para Ice Hockey
• Ellie Black – Gymnastics (Artistic)
• Paige Crozon – 3X3 Basketball
• Erica Gavel – Canadian Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council Representative, Wheelchair Basketball
• Liam Gill – Snowboard
• Vanessa Gilles – Soccer
• Sasha Gollish – Athletics
• Alison Levine – Boccia
• Ivy Liao – Table Tennis
• Philippe Marquis – Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes Commission’s Representative, Freestyle Skiing
• Jill Moffatt – Rowing
• Ness Murby – Para Athletics
• Neville Wright – AthletesCAN Representative, Bobsleigh