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.
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
You understand why Hockey Canada doesn't have credibility on these issues when they are not being proactive on something like this. If a staff member was aware of these horrific allegations, Hockey Canada should have taken action years ago.
I will now go to Mr. Cairo to ask about the national equity fund.
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
Just before you do, I really want to confirm that the Hockey Canada staff was made aware on the Thursday evening, when we received Mr. Westhead's email, of the details of those allegations against members of the 2003 world junior team.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
But you said there was a rumour that was circulating prior to that.
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
There was a rumour, which we immediately reported to Sport Canada, but we also hired an independent investigator. I believe it was two weeks and a day later when we received the details of the allegations via the email from Rick Westhead. We were not aware of any of those details prior to receiving the email.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
In your testimony a month ago, you said you were not going to speak about two ongoing investigations. In fact your quote is, “I wasn't prepared to speak to the specifics of those [investigations] today.”
Are you prepared to speak to them today?
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
I am. I apologize to you and to members of the committee for not having that when we spoke on June 20.
With the 2003 incident, there have now been four reports to Sport Canada: 2018, 2003, and then two additional reports that are not for sexual assault or sexual misconduct. They relate to the family of one of our members, who has suggested their family has received abusive behaviour because their son and daughter have been prevented from registering in the youth hockey system. They have been prevented from registering within the youth hockey system because of the conduct of the father in arenas.
That has been reported, and I believe one report was in 2018 and the second report was in 2021.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you.
Mr. Cairo, you mentioned that there have been nine payments made out of the national equity fund. How many victims have received funds from the national equity fund?
11:55 a.m.
Chief Financial Officer, Hockey Canada
There would have been 20 in total, including those nine.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you.
I want to say, because I only have a minute left in my initial round, my concerns with Hockey Canada, I think, are shared by the Canadian public, shared by my colleagues. We simply have not seen Hockey Canada be responsive at all to issues of sexual violence and sexual abuse. We are seeing this pattern repeated.
When we think back to the days of Sheldon Kennedy and the requirement to put into place independent anti-sexual harassment officers, Hockey Canada—
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
—is now doing the follow up that it should have done then. We look at anti-racism—and I'll have more about that later in this hearing. The anti-racism components that were committed to two years ago have still not been put in place.
I feel like many members of the Canadian public. I have lost confidence in Hockey Canada. We have lost confidence in Hockey Canada, and I think it is time for new leadership.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you, Mr. Julian.
Now we go to the second round. The second round is a five-minute round for questions and answers.
We begin with the Conservative member who will be speaking to this.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
I'll be sharing my time with Mr. Waugh.
Mr. Smith, would you let someone play for Team Canada if you suspected they were involved in a sexual assault?
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
I think there are a couple of things I'd like to clarify.
Since our last meeting, we.... I mentioned in our opening statement that anyone who refuses to be part of an investigation would be banned from any and all Hockey Canada activities, including, even in their later years, coaching or other volunteer roles.
If there was suspicion, we would have that subject to an investigation. If an individual chose not to participate in that investigation and it couldn't come to a rightful conclusion, then they would not be permitted to play for Team Canada. If they went through an investigation, it would determine whether that was suspicion or fact.
Noon
Conservative
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Fine, but you didn't really answer my question.
If you suspected a player of being involved in a sexual assault, would you let him play on Canada's junior team?
Noon
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
If Hockey Canada had suspicions, we would turn that over to an independent investigation. If someone chose not to participate in that investigation, they would be banned. That investigation would then determine whether or not that's a suspicion or a fact. If it was a fact, they would be prevented. If it was cleared, they would be allowed to play.
Noon
Conservative
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
I found it odd that players from the 2018 Canadian junior team represented Canada in the world championships this past May. That made me wonder, and that's why I asked the first question I did.
Hockey Canada's federal funding is currently frozen. Your actions and the statements you made when you appeared before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in June drew intense criticism. It's clear that Hockey Canada needs to repair its image and clean house in a big way.
Tell me why you are the man to set things right at Hockey Canada.
Noon
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
First and foremost, I'm a hockey parent. I'm an individual who cares greatly about this game. I've dedicated other than, I believe, 10 months of my working career to working within our Hockey Canada system, not all at Hockey Canada. I care deeply about delivering a better environment. I take this situation where victims have experienced harm in our game very, very seriously.
I can't express that in any deeper form. I care about this. I care about making the game better for more Canadians. I also care about being part of an overall sport system that wants to be better.
I would like the opportunity to show Canadians—not tell Canadians what we're going to do, but show Canadians—what we have done. I would like a period of time to be able to do that. I'm more than prepared to be held accountable to that. If our board of directors, or as I said earlier the governance review by a third party, suggests that I'm not the right person to do it—my background is not right, my experience is not right, my care and concern for young boys and girls is not right—then I'm prepared to accept that.
Noon
Conservative
Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
On your watch, Hockey Canada has found itself in hot water more than once. Before I give my fellow member the floor, I want to say that Hockey Canada needs an exhaustive cleanup.
Noon
Conservative