Thank you.
Evidence of meeting #41 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 players.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #41 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 players.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Are the employment championship bonuses part of employment contracts with Hockey Canada?
1:10 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
Madam Chair, those would either be part of letter agreements that are letters of employment or employment contracts.
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
As president then, as part of your employment contract, what would your championship bonus be?
1:10 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
I do not have a definitive championship bonus in my current contract. I have a percentage bonus based on measurable objectives that have yet to be determined for the upcoming year. I would be recommending, and I think the board would accept the recommendation, that all of my efforts be associated with respect to the delivery of this action plan.
1:10 p.m.
NDP
1:10 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
My preference would be to follow up with the members of the committee as opposed to giving you a number and be incorrect.
1:10 p.m.
NDP
1:10 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
My preference would be to give you that in writing.
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
I feel a little stonewalled, Mr. Smith. I'm sure you're aware of what the amount is. I think you should share it with us.
1:10 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
Madam Chair, no, I'm not trying to stonewall. If I were trying to stonewall, I wouldn't give it to you. I will give it to you, but I want to make sure I'm giving you the accurate information. I hope you can respect that.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. MacKenzie, there's a class action suit against CHL that details sexual and physical abuse.
How can you reassure Canadians that there is no longer any physical or sexual abuse to players within the CHL confines?
1:10 p.m.
President, Canadian Hockey League
This would be in reference to the Carcillo action?
1:10 p.m.
President, Canadian Hockey League
There's no doubt that in the past, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, there were issues in junior hockey with hazing. Since the mid-2000s, the leagues have really focused on trying to stamp out that behaviour, have put in a variety of new policies and programs to try to do that, including strong sanctions for that kind of behaviour.
We think we've made positive strides, and we think that is not the current experience of today's junior hockey players.
If you want more details on exactly what we've done, I would be happy to have the commissioners report back to the committee.
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you very much.
I now go to the Conservatives for five minutes. I have no idea who the questioner will be.
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
I'm going to continue with the Canadian Hockey League.
All three commissioners have been long-serving members of the hockey community.
Gentlemen, I don't have to tell you that hazing and initiations still happen today in your leagues. You may not say it here, but we know it happens.
Mr. Branch, you don't have connections with Hockey Canada when this happens because we have owners that don't want to report it because there could be a certain player who is a first-round pick in the NHL and is worth over $100,000 to the Barrie Colts or whoever. Therein lies the issue with the Canadian Hockey League. Owners who have first or second draft picks get more money. I'm hesitant to give you my first-round draft pick if he's been involved in a hazing or an initiation because he's going to be an assistant captain or a captain on a team.
We are seeing this because.... I am the Moose Jaw Warriors, the Swift Current Broncos or Prince Albert Raiders, and—Ron, you know this—I'm a community-based team. I'm living month by month. If I have a first-round draft pick that I'm going to get $100,000 for, that could be the make or break of my hockey season and the balance.
As the Canadian Hockey League, how do we move on from here? This is part of the problem. David, Gilles and Ron wouldn't tell Hockey Canada, “We have an issue with this hockey player, so don't pick him for this team because we all want that player to be identified, and the more Hockey Canada grabs the player, the more money I'm going to get on the draft.”
Mr Branch, you've been around longer than most, I think. How would you assess the issues that I just told you exist in the Canadian Hockey League and the Q, the O and the W?
July 27th, 2022 / 1:15 p.m.
Commissioner, Ontario Hockey League
Well, I think first of all, as president Dan alluded to, we recognized that there were some historical issues and challenges.
1:15 p.m.
Commissioner, Ontario Hockey League
I can tell you that we have an absolute prohibition on any rite of passage to join the team, etc. We work to educate. We have an incident reporting map. Players can confidentially contact a person who would be responsible for overseeing hazing situations and the like. We have a professional who goes into teams, interviews all the players and does an intervention and assessment to make sure that the proper environment, the proper programs, are being delivered.
I can tell you, interestingly enough, that an owner contacted me this past September and said, “Dave, we've got a hazing incident, I believe.” I said, “Okay, we'll take it from here” and hired an independent investigator. They went in and did an assessment. The appropriate steps were taken. It was verbal harassment, not a physical situation.
I think our owners recognize, Kevin, more than ever before the importance of the connection with the community. Having a positive environment and being able to attract the best young players to our league far override what you might get through the NHL agreement. It's a new environment.