Cycling Canada Faces Human Rights Tribunal Hearing Over Women Pursuit Team Discrimination Claims

Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal has granted a hearing to five athletes who contend Cycling Canada’s decision to exclude a women’s track pursuit team from world championship competition was discriminatory, cbc.ca reported.

Fiona Majendie, Skyler Goudswaard, Jenna Nestman, Lily Plante, and Justine Thomas brought their case forward after the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada denied their appeal on August 10, 2022. The athletes sought an interim order requiring Cycling Canada to enter a women’s team into the world championships in Shanghai by the September 21 entry deadline. The Tribunal denied that request, ruling there was insufficient time for an expedited hearing within a 34-day window.

Tribunal Sets December Hearing Date

Following unsuccessful mediation ordered by the Tribunal, the body scheduled an oral hearing of up to three days in December. Cycling Canada urged the Tribunal to separate the proceedings to determine whether the complaint constituted an abuse of process under the Human Rights Code before addressing discrimination claims, citing the prior SDRCC ruling.

The Tribunal rejected that request to bifurcate the process. Emir Crowne, representing the athletes, criticized Cycling Canada’s procedural maneuver in a statement.

Despite Cycling Canada’s attempt to have the issues heard separately, the case is now ‘on track’, so to speak, for a combined hearing this December. These athletes are ready to have their case heard. Women in Canadian sport deserve better than this.

Emir Crowne

Budget Limits and Performance Analysis Cited

Cycling Canada maintained that its decision did not involve sexual discrimination. Chief executive officer Mathieu Boucher stated that the SDRCC already concluded the selection choices were neither discriminatory nor unfairly based on prescribed personal characteristics.

Rather than ending the women’s team pursuit program, Cycling Canada transitioned to a development model. Officials explained that entry restrictions for the Shanghai championships stemmed from performance analysis indicating the men’s squad sat closer to closing the gap on a top-six world ranking, alongside existing budget constraints. Boucher noted in May that funding could open up for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if extraordinary talent emerged, though correspondence from May indicated the primary developmental focus for the women’s pursuit program remains the 2032 Games.

Cycling Canada confirmed that the women’s pursuit team is scheduled to compete at a Next Gen event in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, in January, the Pan American Championships in February, and a World Cup stop in Milton, Ontario, in April. Meanwhile, Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden announced $6.8 million in new funding for Cycling Canada for the 2026-27 cycle on September 25, which includes an $846,000 investment for the current year derived from federal economic allocations.

Shanghai World Championships Start Qualification for Los Angeles 2028

The world championships in Shanghai run from October 14 to October 16, serving as the initial qualification window for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Franck Durivaux, national team coach and track sprint lead, said the event was important.

As the first qualifying event on the road to LA 2028, the stakes are incredibly high for our entire team. For the men, both in team sprint and the individual events, this is an opportunity to establish themselves in the emerging world hierarchy. We are especially excited to see Kelsey Mitchell return to world championship competition.

Franck Durivaux

The Canadian delegation heading to Shanghai features sprinters Lauriane Genest and Kelsey Mitchell alongside James Hedgcock, Cole Dempster, and Tyler Rorke. Endurance competitors making the trip include Matthias Guillemette, Chris Ernst, Campbell Parish, Jonathan Hinse, and Carson Mattern.