Canadian Heritage Committee on July 27th, 2022

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Was there a liaison from Hockey Canada to the London police both prior to the suspension and now, now that the investigation with the London Police Service has resumed? Is there a liaison with Hockey Canada and the Halifax police now that a new investigation has been opened up into the 2003 world hockey championships?

[Scott Smith]

Henein Hutchison would have been in contact with the London police.

With respect to your question on the Halifax police, our general counsel reached out to Halifax police the evening we received the email from Mr. Westhead.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

And no one else from Hockey Canada?

[Scott Smith]

No one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have 14 seconds, Peter.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you.

Do the board of directors or staff receive any bonuses or gifts when a junior team or a Canadian team on Canadian soil wins a championship?

[Scott Smith]

The board of directors and our members from time to time have received a version of championship rings. There are some staff members who do have bonuses that relate to medal performance.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

How much?

[Scott Smith]

There would be a variety of those, based on the level of—

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

What is the range?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Peter. You have run out of time. I'm so sorry. You can ask that later on.

I want to go now to Mr. Nater for the Conservatives.

You have five minutes, please.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd like an answer to Mr. Julian's question.

What is the range of those payments?

[Scott Smith]

I would be prepared to provide that to the committee.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Could you provide that by the conclusion of today's meeting? I'm sure there's some staff back in the Hockey Canada office that could provide that.

[Scott Smith]

We'll endeavour to do so.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Thank you. I'd like to see that commitment.

There's a Shakespeare quote, “What's past is prologue.” I feel like the actions of Hockey Canada over the last number of years have really brought us to this point today.

Earlier, in response to a question from Mr. Lemire, you made a comment about safe sport and about how Hockey Canada has been working on this for some time, but the facts of the matter are that in your own minutes, Hockey Canada has shown hesitancy to some of the objectives of safe sport.

I want to quote from the minutes. It has to do with one sport hotline. The minutes state this: Hockey Canada is seen as a leader. However, some sports are not as sophisticated or established as us. There's great concern the third party involvement would eliminate our ability to control the situation as well as we would.

I would note that they've also received emails where Hockey Canada officials have stated that they would be opposed to third parties looking at complaints.

Here we are today, with that type of attitude over the past number of years that only Hockey Canada could control the situation as well. It takes us to the situation where we have the culture and the situation with Hockey Canada today.

I want you to address that very briefly. How can we go forward with the leadership team that is in place today, which has been involved with the organization for a number of years and has had this attitude in the past?

I'll give you a minute to comment.

[Scott Smith]

Madam Chair, first, I'd like to make reference to where we currently are with the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner.

I believe that we've joined a group of other national sport organizations that have raised questions with respect to the implementation of the universal code of conduct and the requirements of the Office of the Sports Integrity Commissioner. I would characterize those as not being preventative from going in that direction, but for clarification on the appropriate implementation.

I was briefed yesterday via email that a meeting took place on Monday. The lawyer representing the SDRCC as well as the group of sports have had good discussions. They're working through one component of the indemnification clause and I am very comfortable that we will be an early signatory to that, as required by Sport Canada.

With respect to your question on trust within Hockey Canada and, I think, specifically trust in me, I've attempted to answer that as honestly and as straightforwardly as I can. I believe that I am the right person to lead Hockey Canada to a new place. I believe I have the skill set to do it. I believe I have the drive and commitment to do it and the respect of our board and our membership, as well as our staff.

If through the governance review or if our board were to change their opinion of that, I'm prepared to accept the consequences of that.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

I'd like each of the commissioners of the three leagues to answer this next question. It's a three-part question. I'll go through all three and ask each of you to respond.

How many complaints have each of the leagues received related to allegations? How many settlements have been offered? In each of those cases, did your respective leagues inform Hockey Canada?

[Dan MacKenzie]

Madam Chair, Maybe we can start with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Monsieur Courteau.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, Mr. Courteau, go ahead.

[Gilles Courteau]

Could you repeat the question?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Please be brief. You only have a minute left.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Madam Chair, he's asking that I repeat the question, so I'd ask that the clock be stopped so I can repeat the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

All right.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

How many complaints were received? How many settlements were offered? Did the league advise Hockey Canada of the complaints?