Canadian Sport Reform Requires More Than Independence, Say National Investigators
Edmonton, Alberta | March 25, 2026
As the Government of Canada releases its Future of Sport in Canada Commission engagement report, national investigation firm Veritas Solutions is urging sport leaders to move beyond policy commitments and focus on how safe sport complaints and investigations are designed, delivered, and evaluated in practice.
The federal report highlights persistent concerns around trust, safety, and accountability in sport. For Bob Stenhouse, CEO of Veritas Solutions, the issue is not a lack of intent — it’s a gap between principles and execution.
“We’ve made independence the headline in sport integrity,” said Stenhouse. “But independence alone doesn’t ensure quality, consistency, or credibility. Those outcomes depend on how investigations are actually carried out.”
Veritas Solutions, a national firm supporting sport organizations across Canada with complex, high-sensitivity investigations, says the next phase of reform must focus on strengthening the intake and investigative function itself — regardless of delivery model.
Scott Doran, Director of Sport Investigations at Veritas Solutions, says the report correctly identifies priorities like trauma-informed processes, timeliness, and transparency, but leaves open critical questions about how those expectations are operationalized.
“These aren’t abstract values,” said Doran. “They’re performance expectations. Without shared and recognized standards for training, methodology, and oversight, outcomes will continue to vary from case to case.”
Based on its work across Canadian sport, Veritas Solutions points to three immediate opportunities to reduce risk and improve confidence in safe sport systems:
1. Shared investigative frameworks and definitions Consistency requires more than independence. Clear, nationally aligned definitions of maltreatment and structured investigative approaches help ensure fairness, defensibility, and comparable outcomes across organizations.
2. Formalized training and specialization for investigators Trauma-informed practice, credibility assessment, and procedural fairness are essential learned skills. Organizations reduce risk when investigators — whether legal or non-legal — meet clear training and competency expectations appropriate to the work.
3. Embedded quality assurance and oversight mechanisms “Independence should not mean working in isolation,” said Stenhouse. “Quality assurance, peer review, and oversight are essential to maintaining consistency and public confidence, regardless of who conducts the investigation.”
Veritas Solutions emphasizes that qualified independent third-party investigators can play a critical role in strengthening safe sport systems by providing independence while also meeting defined professional standards.
“If we want a system people believe in,” said Doran, “we have to build one that performs under pressure, applies shared expectations, and puts participant safety at the centre. That’s where trust is earned.”
Bob Stenhouse and Scott Doran are available for media interviews to discuss the report and practical, experience-based approaches to strengthening safe sport systems in Canada.
About Veritas Solutions
Veritas Solutions is an independent professional services firm specializing in workplace and regulatory investigations, people-risk consulting, and professional training. We support HR leaders, executives, regulators, boards, and counsel in high-stakes contexts where fairness, clarity, and defensibility matter.
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