Canadian Heritage Committee on July 26th, 2022

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

When you submitted your preliminary report, what were the recommendations?

[Danielle Robitaille]

This is an area that Hockey Canada has asserted solicitor-client privilege. I'm not authorized to waive it on their behalf.

I have been advised to request that my answer be provided in camera if I'm directed to answer this question.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Can we know what the reaction was of Hockey Canada officials to that report?

[Danielle Robitaille]

I'm not sure I'm in the best position to answer that. My role and my mandate did not include the area of compliance, shall I say, in order to kind of follow through recommendations into implementation. My role is to provide independent, impartial recommendations that can be either accepted or rejected by an organization.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Did you work with Hockey Canada officials to put in place certain recommendations?

[Danielle Robitaille]

I hope my earlier answer raised that. I was not engaged to participate in implementation or compliance.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

What happened between the filing of your preliminary report in October 2018 and the closing of the investigation in September 2020?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have 30 seconds.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

There was still a lapse of time.

What happened between the time you started the investigation and the time you closed it? What did you do during that time?

[Danielle Robitaille]

Between when and when?

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Between the time you started the investigation in 2018 and the time you closed it in 2020.

[Danielle Robitaille]

Okay.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

What happened during those years—

[Danielle Robitaille]

Okay. Thank you.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

It's still a long time.

[Danielle Robitaille]

Yes—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I'm sorry. The time is up. I gave a 30-second warning. You will be able to answer that through another question, Ms. Robitaille.

We'll now go to the second set of questions.

For the Liberals, it will be Anthony Housefather for six minutes.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you for appearing today.

Did you speak with anyone at Hockey Canada or its representatives to prepare for your testimony today?

[Danielle Robitaille]

I can advise the members of the committee and Madam Chair that I sent a copy of my opening statement to counsel for Hockey Canada in advance of my attendance here before you. Apart from that, I did not engage with Hockey Canada in preparation for my attendance today.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Thank you.

Was this the first mandate you received from Hockey Canada?

[Danielle Robitaille]

It was the first.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Perfect.

When you were speaking with Hockey Canada during the course of the mandate, was there contact with Mr. McCurdie, or did you ever have occasion to speak to Mr. Smith or Mr. Renney or other members of the Hockey Canada staff?

[Danielle Robitaille]

I dealt primarily with Mr. McCurdie. I did have an opportunity to participate in conference calls with senior leadership at the outset.

I hope that assists.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Have you ever presented your findings to the Hockey Canada board?

[Danielle Robitaille]

I think I need some clarification on your question. As I indicated, the player conduct investigation is active and ongoing. There would be no opportunity to present to the board since the investigation has not concluded.

In relation to the interim report, I've indicated the date of its delivery, and this again is an area where I know Hockey Canada is asserting a solicitor-client privilege.