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.
12:50 p.m.
Commissioner, Ligue de Hockey Junior Majeur du Québec
In our league, we have received two complaints in the past five years, and neither has been forwarded to Hockey Canada.
The two players involved in one of the complaints have been suspended.
12:50 p.m.
Commissioner, Ontario Hockey League
If I understand the question correctly, in the last five years, we've had no sexual assault claims.
We had one report of a sexual misconduct, which was as a result of a player playing in Europe taking a picture that he distributed, which certainly violated the young woman's rights. We took immediate action, even though it did not occur in our league, and we suspended him until January 1. It was subject to reinstatement based on taking counselling and certain educational programs that were approved by the league.
12:50 p.m.
Commissioner, Western Hockey League
Madam Chair, we've had two instances in the past five years. These matters were investigated by police, and the players were suspended from our league. It was not reported to Hockey Canada.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
July 27th, 2022 / 12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to start by saying there's no question that Canadians love hockey. It's something we've always been proud of as Canadians, but over the last few months, I've seen more anger, disappointment and people who are just ashamed of what's been going on.
Your responsibilities as leaders in the system go way beyond just the boardroom and the management of the boardroom. It's interconnected with the dreams of Canadians and the national spirit.
We've all fought...every single one of us here has done something to promote sport and promote hockey. My municipality tried to stop road hockey. I fought against that. I fought against 77 municipalities. Hockey and sport are so important to Canadians because it helps build young people. It gives them the skill sets they need to continue moving forward.
My first question is for any of you. Do you believe there's a crisis in hockey today? If so, why?
12:50 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
I believe we have some significant issues that are having a significant impact on what Canadians and, more importantly, parents of young hockey players think about the game.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Do you think there's a crisis in hockey right now? Does your organization have a crisis?
12:50 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
I think if there's one incident, that's one too many. That's driving our approach with respect to our action—
12:50 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
I never said that. I said—
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
12:50 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
When there's one incident of this, we need to take that responsibility very clearly. We do believe that we need to be responsible. We need to act, and we've got an action plan to deliver on that.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Do you know who the Scarborough Sharks, Leaside Wildcats and the Etobicoke Dolphins are?
12:50 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
I apologize; I would guess they're members within our membership, but I don't know those—
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
They're local teams right around the corner from where I represent. They're teams made up of young women. I would consider them shareholders in your organization. Would you agree?
12:50 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
They're shareholders within our membership, and our membership are treated as shareholders of Hockey Canada, so yes.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
If I give you just 30 seconds to explain why Hockey Canada and the organizations representing hockey have failed young women like them, what would you say?
12:50 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
My response would be that the events of 2018 as well as the announcement of 2003 are significant and very troubling. Our focus is to investigate those and bring them to a truthful conclusion.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Let's talk about culture within your organization. You have an action plan that's going to change the culture within your sport. It says here in the plan overview—this is like one of the first statements made in the plan—“Hockey Canada is committed to driving cultural change and addressing the toxic behaviour that exists in corners of the game.”
What do you mean by “corners”? Is this a systemic issue, or is this just an isolated, small part of...? Let's say the corners are less than 10% of the field of play or the ice. Is this issue a systemic issue throughout the entire organization, or is it just an isolated issue that represents a corner of the larger, bigger picture?
12:55 p.m.
President and Chief Operating Officer, Hockey Canada
Well, if I have an opportunity to speak for 30 seconds to the three or four female programs that you represent, we haven't had these issues in the female game. We haven't had these issues in certain segments of our minor hockey program, but we have in other areas of minor hockey as well as levels above that.
