December 22, 2009
Dear Right Hon. Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
As the Liberal Opposition Critic for Amateur Sport and the Olympics and proud supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, I write to express my concern regarding the discrimination faced by women ski jumpers who have been excluded from the 2010 Games. It is unacceptable for the Canadian government to be complicit in this breach of rights, and the government can and must take immediate corrective action.
The B.C. Supreme Court has acknowledged that the exclusion of women ski jumping in the 2010 Games is a classic case of gender discrimination, a finding that was not overturned by the Court of Appeal. In 2006, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) denied women jumpers inclusion into the 2010 Games, 83 women from 14 nations were competing at the elite international level in ski jumping. By comparison, the sport of women’s ski cross, which was newly added to the Olympics at that time, included only 34 women from 10 nations competing at the elite level. Also in 2006, the International Sports Federation (which governs all snow sports), recommended by a 114-1 vote that the IOC should include the women ski jumpers; this validates their having met the criteria to qualify for inclusion.
Unfortunately, today’s refusal by the Supreme Court of Canada to hear the case of women ski jumpers confirms the lack of jurisdiction of Canadian courts over the IOC, a corporation based in Switzerland. In absence of a legal resolution, a political solution is required. Gender discrimination is a clear violation of Canadian values, is contrary to Section 15 (1) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and is prohibited under both the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Human Rights Code of British Columbia. Therefore the government must prevent this egregious act of discrimination.
In 2007 Canadian women ski jumpers filed a discrimination complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. That complaint went to arbitration and was settled with the federal government promising to lobby effectively for their participation in the Vancouver 2010 Games. To date the women ski jumpers have seen no such government advocacy on their behalf. On the contrary, by supporting and enabling the IOC ‘s discriminatory decision to bar women ski jumpers, the Conservative government is tolerating, and indeed is complicit in a policy of gender discrimination.
As an Official Partner and funder of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games taking place on Canadian soil, the Government of Canada is responsible to ensure that decisions made by the IOC do not take away the women ski jumpers’ right to equal participation. Canadian taxpayers should be outraged that the government is spending public funds promoting an initiative that blatantly violates Canadian values and policies supporting equality.
It is not too late to right this wrong, and it is not too late for the women ski jumpers to compete in the 2010 Games. Thanks to support from VANOC for these women athletes, they continue to train on Olympic facilities and remain ‘Games-ready’. VANOC has ensured the budget, facilities, and logistical capability to include women’s ski jumping in the 2010 Winter Olympics, if the decision is made soon.
I request that your government immediately exert appropriate pressure on the IOC, as promised in 2007, to do what’s right. I ask that you insist the IOC comply with Canadian principles of equality and eliminate this gender discrimination. Both men and women ski jumpers must be afforded the opportunity by the IOC to compete at the 2010 Games. If not, then to avoid discrimination, neither should be permitted to participate.
I look forward to your prompt response on this very important defense of Canada’s Charter rights.
Best regards,
Joyce Murray,
Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra
Liberal Official Opposition Critic for Amateur Sport and the Olympics
Cc:
Hon. Gary Lunn
MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands
Minister of State (Sport)