Evidence of meeting #40 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was investigation.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Did you ever follow up with Hockey Canada throughout this process on the status of the investigation?
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
We talk to organizations on a regular basis as part of our collaboration and the funding process we offer them.
I'm not aware of any specific follow‑ups done in this regard.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
So there was this allegation made—you were made aware of it on June 26—and for four years, not once did you or your organization follow up with Hockey Canada about these allegations. Is that what you're telling me? Was there never a specific follow-up with Hockey Canada about these allegations?
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Organizations report annually on how they are meeting the funding requirements set out in the contribution agreement. That's how we do our audits.
Given that there were ongoing investigations, a criminal investigation and an independent investigation, we were waiting for the results before taking any action.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
I find it remarkably troubling that you were made aware of these allegations in June of 2018. Hockey Canada continued to get large amounts of funding despite serious criminal allegations of sexual assault, and not once did Sport Canada follow up with with Hockey Canada on the status of the investigation. The minister's office wasn't advised.
When transition documents were prepared for former minister Duncan to Minister Guilbeault and to Minister St-Onge, were these issues with Hockey Canada flagged in any of those transition documents?
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
No, not to my knowledge.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Were you ever aware of the existence of the national equity fund within Hockey Canada?
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
We were aware that the fund existed. However, our knowledge of the fund was limited to what can be read in the organization's financial statements.
In this regard, the definition of this fund makes no mention of “sexual allegations” or “sexual abuse or sexual violence lawsuit”.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
When the payment was made earlier this year, we now know it was made from the national equity fund. Did you follow up with Hockey Canada at the time to see where that money came from?
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Yes.
In 2022, when we learned about the settlement of the lawsuit, the first thing we did was to verify whether any public funds had been used for the payment and for this investigation.
Hockey Canada told us at the time that this was not the case, but we still retained the services of an independent accounting firm—
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
—so that a financial audit could be done on this.
Conservative
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
This audit is ongoing.
The first steps were undertaken in late June and early July. We expect to receive preliminary results in the fall.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you very much, Mr. Nater.
We will go to the next questioner from the Liberals, who is Tim Louis.
Tim, you have six minutes.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
That's the name I have before me, unless someone else has a name. This is the name I was given.
Liberal
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
The previous minister, Ms. Duncan, was appointed Minister of Sport in January 2018, I believe. Is it fair to say that she made safe sport a priority upon her appointment as minister?
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
Yes, she did.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
What steps did she take on becoming minister after her appointment in January 2018?
Senior Director, Programs, Sport Canada Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage
She made many announcements, but also put in place new requirements for a safer sport system in Canada by requiring organizations to provide third‑party access to complainants, providing training to members of their organizations, if necessary, and reporting incidents to Sport Canada as soon as they occur so that Sport Canada is aware of the situation.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Thank you so much.
In terms of safe sport, what existed prior to Ms. Duncan's appointment as Minister of Sport?
