As Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, Carla believes that Canadians deserve a sport system that reflects and celebrates our Canadian values of equality, fairness and inclusion. Throughout her career, she has consistently been championing diversity and inclusion. Carla has expressed that her priority as Sport Minister is a broad system reform. This includes putting human rights, athletes, and safe sport at the centre of sport governance and operations. Additionally, Carla believes we need a system that better reflects and celebrates the diversity of our country - for traditionally underrepresented groups to have equitable access to positive sport opportunities. The big question is: How do we embed safe sport and culture change into the day-to-day operation of sport in Canada? There is ongoing conflict, bias and mistrust in the system. To address these concerns, the Ministry has put in place the Office of the Sport Integrity Commission, where 93% of funded national-level sport organizations have become Program Signatories. Additionally, The Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport has been adopted by all funded national-level sport organizations. 

Carla has stated:

“We need to listen and learn from advocates and athletes - especially Surviviors. 

We need to welcome perspectives from outside sport, such as experts in child protection and community policing. 

We need to talk about the things we have avoided talking about - what’s really going on.

We need to talk about racism and misogyny and homophobia and transphobia. 

We need to talk about the negative, inappropriate and dangerous behaviour that has been normalized. The behaviour that happens every day, at every practice, at every game. The language used. The gestures. The mockery. The intimidation. Where do we draw the line? 

We need to talk about roles and responsibilities. Parents, athletes, officials, administrators, volunteers, and coaches - all have a role to play. 

We need to talk about how we win - and how we want to win. About how we win well.”

Carla recognizes that to ensure this accountability, we need to take a new approach to “winning”. She firmly believes that we can inspire to win within a reimagined sport system and sport culture, grounded in our values. This focuses on the physical, emotional and mental well-being of athletes and other sport participants. Canada is being ambitious in our performance objectives and cheering on our teams to victory within this new paradigm.