Regulation - LGIC
Consultation on Proposed Lieutenant Governor-in-Council Regulation made under the Combative Sports Act, 2019
Regulation Number(s):
n/a
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Combative Sports Act, 2019
Summary of Proposal:
The Ministry of Sport is proposing a new Lieutenant Governor-in-Council regulation to support the implementation of the Combative Sports Act, 2019 (CSA), which was passed and received Royal Assent by the Legislature in 2019. The proposed regulation addresses concerns raised by the combative sports sector about Ontario's outdated licensing and permitting requirements governing combative sport, including athlete safety and who can legally hold amateur combative sport events.
The proposed regulation would update licensing requirements for professional combative sports as well as permitting requirements for professional and amateur combative sport participants (e.g., contestants, promoters, seconds, officials, matchmakers and managers) and set out enforcement details and requirements for professional and amateur combative sports.
More specifically, the proposed regulation would prescribe additional details and requirements set out in the legislation, including, but not limited to:
(1) defining "professional combative sport contest or exhibition" and "amateur combative sport contest or exhibition", including prescribing criteria for determining whether a person is a professional contestant or an amateur contestant in a particular combative sport;
(2) licensing requirements to participate in professional combative sport events in a number of capacities, including as contestants, promoters, managers, matchmakers, seconds (coaches) and officials;
(3) permit requirements to hold professional and amateur combative sport events, including permit exemptions for certain individuals/entities to hold amateur combative sport events;
(4) rules and requirements governing fees, including payment of fees, prescribing the amount of fees or the manner of determining fees and prescribing the time period within which fees must be paid; and
(5) requirements governing administrative penalties.
Once fully proclaimed, the CSA along with proposed new Minister's and Lieutenant Governor-in-Council regulations would replace the existing Athletics Control Act, and its regulations, as well as provincial Order-in-Council 1087/2017, providing the authority to regulate both amateur and professional combative sport contests under a single legal framework. This approach positions the province well to protect the health and safety of athletes while also ensuring promoters are not deterred from hosting events in Ontario by red tape and barriers to business.
A consultation draft of the proposed new regulation is included as an attachment. The Ministry invites stakeholder feedback on key elements of the regulation before the period closing date.
The proposed regulation would update licensing requirements for professional combative sports as well as permitting requirements for professional and amateur combative sport participants (e.g., contestants, promoters, seconds, officials, matchmakers and managers) and set out enforcement details and requirements for professional and amateur combative sports.
More specifically, the proposed regulation would prescribe additional details and requirements set out in the legislation, including, but not limited to:
(1) defining "professional combative sport contest or exhibition" and "amateur combative sport contest or exhibition", including prescribing criteria for determining whether a person is a professional contestant or an amateur contestant in a particular combative sport;
(2) licensing requirements to participate in professional combative sport events in a number of capacities, including as contestants, promoters, managers, matchmakers, seconds (coaches) and officials;
(3) permit requirements to hold professional and amateur combative sport events, including permit exemptions for certain individuals/entities to hold amateur combative sport events;
(4) rules and requirements governing fees, including payment of fees, prescribing the amount of fees or the manner of determining fees and prescribing the time period within which fees must be paid; and
(5) requirements governing administrative penalties.
Once fully proclaimed, the CSA along with proposed new Minister's and Lieutenant Governor-in-Council regulations would replace the existing Athletics Control Act, and its regulations, as well as provincial Order-in-Council 1087/2017, providing the authority to regulate both amateur and professional combative sport contests under a single legal framework. This approach positions the province well to protect the health and safety of athletes while also ensuring promoters are not deterred from hosting events in Ontario by red tape and barriers to business.
A consultation draft of the proposed new regulation is included as an attachment. The Ministry invites stakeholder feedback on key elements of the regulation before the period closing date.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
Under existing Order-in-Council 1087/2017, combative sport contests in 11 amateur sports can be held legally with the permission of a Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) recognized by the Ministry of Sport. The proposed new legal framework would provide options for amateur combative sport organizations/businesses outside Ministry recognized PSOs to host events legally by enabling them to apply to the Commissioner for an event permit or seek permission from the relevant PSO.
If the combative sport organization/business chooses to apply to the Commissioner for a permit, they must adhere to the new fee requirements for amateur combative sport event permits (see attached regulation for detail). Proposed new amateur event permit fees are in line with current PSO sanctioning fees for events and tournaments and have been reviewed and endorsed by the Ontario Combative Sport Advisory Council.
The Ministry is not proposing to increase existing professional combative sport licence and permit fees.
The new regulatory requirements are estimated to result in annual direct compliance costs for professional and amateur combative sport businesses. Annual direct compliance costs are related to new amateur event permit fees, revised officials' fees for professional combative sport and administrative costs associated with the time and effort needed for sector participants to familiarize themselves with the new regulation. Compliance costs are expected to be offset by savings resulting from the replacement of the gate fee with a new event administration fee and removal of the existing medical processing fee for professional combative sport contestants.
If approved, the new regulation would provide greater opportunities for individuals seeking to participate in combative sports and businesses interested in hosting combative sport events. The proposed changes, if approved, would impose additional health and safety requirements for contestants to help ensure greater safety in the sector and would also provide more entry points for athletes and promoters to host combative sport contests in Ontario.
If the combative sport organization/business chooses to apply to the Commissioner for a permit, they must adhere to the new fee requirements for amateur combative sport event permits (see attached regulation for detail). Proposed new amateur event permit fees are in line with current PSO sanctioning fees for events and tournaments and have been reviewed and endorsed by the Ontario Combative Sport Advisory Council.
The Ministry is not proposing to increase existing professional combative sport licence and permit fees.
The new regulatory requirements are estimated to result in annual direct compliance costs for professional and amateur combative sport businesses. Annual direct compliance costs are related to new amateur event permit fees, revised officials' fees for professional combative sport and administrative costs associated with the time and effort needed for sector participants to familiarize themselves with the new regulation. Compliance costs are expected to be offset by savings resulting from the replacement of the gate fee with a new event administration fee and removal of the existing medical processing fee for professional combative sport contestants.
If approved, the new regulation would provide greater opportunities for individuals seeking to participate in combative sports and businesses interested in hosting combative sport events. The proposed changes, if approved, would impose additional health and safety requirements for contestants to help ensure greater safety in the sector and would also provide more entry points for athletes and promoters to host combative sport contests in Ontario.
Further Information:
CSA LGIC Regulation (GENERAL) - CONSULTATION DRAFT
Proposal Number:
24-MTCS002
Posting Date:
July 25, 2024
Comments Due Date:
September 8, 2024
Contact Address:
Ministry of Sport - Sport, Recreation and Recognition Division, 400 University Avenue, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 2R9