The Ontario government will be setting guidelines to ensure young athletes are taken out of a game in case of a suspected concussion.
The move comes after a bill dubbed “Rowan’s Law”, named for a 17-year-old Ottawa girl who died of injuries sustained while playing highschool rugby, passed yesterday in the legislature with rare all-party support.
Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod has championed the law since she tabled it last year.
She said the support from all three parties shows the importance of the issue.
“It has become a public health issue that needs to be dealt with,” MacLeod said. “It’s not controversial.”
More legislation may still be needed, depending on the committee’s implementation plan due in a year to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport.
MacLeod said the bulk of the recommendations could likely be achieved through policy changes or regulations, but a new law may be needed to create legal accountability.
Agencies/Canadajournal