OUELLETTE’S BILL TO PROTECT CHILDREN PLAYING AMATEUR SPORTS PASSES SECOND READING

QUEEN’S PARK – Bill 201, the Protection of Minors in Amateur Sports Act, 2007 introduced by Oshawa MPP Jerry Ouellette passed Second Reading this morning in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The bill will now move forward and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

The bill requires all coaches, referees, managers and officials to be subject to criminal background checks in order to participate in organized amateur sports with children under 18 years of age.

“As a parent and a minor hockey coach, I know that protecting our children from convicted offenders is a serious matter,” says Mr. Ouellette. “I am pleased the bill has passed Second Reading; and I look forward to public committee hearings to fine tune the legislation such that children are protected to the best of our ability while involved in valuable organized sports.”

All members who spoke in the Legislature offered praise and support in moving Mr. Ouellette’s bill forward.

Dave Levac, the Chief Government Whip affirmed, “Mr. Ouellette, I want to thank you very much for bringing this bill forward. It’s the right thing to do; it’s appropriate and so I support your bill. I think it’s a great bill”.

“It’s a privilege to speak to this bill. I am in support, and so is the New Democratic Party” agreed Cheri DiNovo, MPP Parkdale–High Park. “Anything that makes Ontario safer for our children is something that we should all be supporting and I hope that we all will this morning”.

Joyce Savoline MPP, Burlington approved, “I think this is a breath of fresh air that it’s come forward and that we have the opportunity to make something right, something even safer for our children.”

While many sports associations in Ontario have already developed similar policies dealing with protecting children, there are no provincial minimum standards or guidelines that require mandatory criminal background checks.

"I am pleased with all the support for this bill and I will continue to work together with the sports organizations in Oshawa and across the province to make amateur sports safer for our children,” added Mr. Ouellette.

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