Province decides not to regulate professional wrestling, encourages industry to set up its own safety body in wake of consultant's report
The Manitoba government has decided not to step into the ring and regulate professional wrestling.
The province hired a consultant last year to look into government regulation of professional wrestling as a way to prevent injuries. The consultants concluded that professional wrestling should regulate itself and act in its own best interests to promote safety.
Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson said the professional wrestling industry should follow the recommendations of the report and establish a self-regulatory mechanism such as a safety council.
“Professional wrestling, though defined in Manitoba as entertainment rather than sport, calls for a high degree of athleticism,” said Robinson. “Wrestlers, promoters and venue operators all have important roles to play to ensure the safety of performers and spectators.”
Since deregulation in 1996, predetermined, staged combative displays such as professional wrestling are not considered sport in Manitoba and are not regulated by the Manitoba Boxing Commission or the prize fighting provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Amateur, Olympic-style wrestling is a competition sport and as such is regulated by the appropriate sport governing bodies.
According to the CBC, the study into whether or not Manitoba should regulate professional wrestling as a way to prevent injuries cost $20,000. Ontario and a couple of municipalities in Alberta are the only jurisdictions in Canada where professional wrestling is regulated. Manitoba and Quebec used to regulate professional wrestling but stopped a decade ago when the industry admitted its matches were choreographed.
The province hired a consultant last year to look into government regulation of professional wrestling as a way to prevent injuries. The consultants concluded that professional wrestling should regulate itself and act in its own best interests to promote safety.
Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson said the professional wrestling industry should follow the recommendations of the report and establish a self-regulatory mechanism such as a safety council.
“Professional wrestling, though defined in Manitoba as entertainment rather than sport, calls for a high degree of athleticism,” said Robinson. “Wrestlers, promoters and venue operators all have important roles to play to ensure the safety of performers and spectators.”
Since deregulation in 1996, predetermined, staged combative displays such as professional wrestling are not considered sport in Manitoba and are not regulated by the Manitoba Boxing Commission or the prize fighting provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Amateur, Olympic-style wrestling is a competition sport and as such is regulated by the appropriate sport governing bodies.
According to the CBC, the study into whether or not Manitoba should regulate professional wrestling as a way to prevent injuries cost $20,000. Ontario and a couple of municipalities in Alberta are the only jurisdictions in Canada where professional wrestling is regulated. Manitoba and Quebec used to regulate professional wrestling but stopped a decade ago when the industry admitted its matches were choreographed.
