RICHMOND, B.C. -- The Canadian Olympic Committee continues to take steps to make sure the organization is a safe environment for all its employees and athletes, the organization's new president said Friday in response to criticism from champion skier Jean-Luc Brassard.
"It's a process," Tricia Smith said during an event at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval. "We have taken the steps so far we need to take in terms of making sure our staff is safe, the workplace is healthy.
"It's a process. If more steps need to be taken, they will be taken."
Brassard said he is considering resigning as chef de mission for the 2016 Rio Olympics over sexual harassment allegations against former COC president Marcel Aubut.
A gold medallist in freestyle skiing, Brassard told Radio-Canada he wants an explanation on why the situation was allowed to fester and what the COC is doing to repair the damage.
"During the last four years, red lights were lit on a number of occasions, and intentionally or not, they were ignored," Brassard said in the interview. "I want to know why. We're not talking about budgetary mistakes or financial issues, we're talking about human feelings."
Brassard said he has written a letter to the COC's board of directors outlining his concerns.
"If I have the impression I can't do anything for the employees who are still hurt by this, I would consider that a failure, and I might have to distance myself," he said.
Aubut, 68, resigned as COC president in October amid accusations of sexual harassment. He has not faced any criminal charges
Smith, who was elected to replace Aubut on Nov. 22, did not specifically address Brassard's threat to resign.
"Jean-Luc Brassard is an incredible Canadian and an incredible Olympian," said the four-time Olympic rower. "He is passionate about the Olympic movement like I am.
"I have spoken to him recently. He is very trusting and said he has faith in what I am doing. We will make sure the steps are taken to be sure we have a safe and healthy environment for all our staff and anyone in the Olympic movement."
Brassard's letter will be discussed when the COC board meets in Vancouver this week, Smith said.
The COC released a report into the sexual harassment scandal in January. The board voted to implement all the recommendations in the report.
In the wake of the report, the COC dismissed two executives and a manager.
Smith was asked about the changes.
"We have to move forward with the organization with people who believe in the changes in the organization," she said.
Brassard said he has confidence in Smith. He still believes the COC needs to offer a better explanation of the Aubut situation.
Some employees have moved on but others still "have wounds that won't heal," he said.
Smith said the COC has offered the best explanation of the events it can.
"I think we are providing the fullest explanation we can in terms of what is happening," she said. "The review was done in a way that promised confidentially to those people that participated. We have to balance those."
Simon Whitfield, an Olympic gold medallist in triathlon, said he believes the COC won't be permanently damaged by the Aubut scandal.
"The COC is far beyond one person," said Whitfield. "You can never have a continually upward trajectory."
Smith was at the Olympic Oval to represent the COC in the signing of a sport memorandum of understanding along with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium, the province and viaSport BC. The partnership aims to help B.C. youth develop their sport's potential from the playground to international success.
