Evidence of meeting #61 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 hockey.
A video is available from Parliament.
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
I believe Hockey Canada made an announcement on the subject.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
I will have to check that, because I don't recall seeing anything.
In light of the organization's lax attitude towards governance, did you look at the increase in insurance premiums for Hockey Canada directors? Why did the premiums shoot up so quickly?
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
I am no insurance expert, but I am under the impression that the number of claims, especially for cases of sexual assault, went up considerably over the last 10 years, which has led to an increase in premiums.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
To your knowledge, has something similar happened with other national sports organizations, or have premiums shot up much more quickly for hockey?
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
Unfortunately, I can't make any comparisons. However, you will find, at page 165 of the French version of the report, a table in which I indicated the various insurance policies and the cost for each participant.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
During your inquiry, did you learn that people within and outside of Hockey Canada used these funds for their own purposes, especially the insurance funds?
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
I am sorry, but I'm not sure I understood the question.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Did you learn that a person could have used the funds for personal reasons and benefitted from the increase in insurance premiums?
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
How do you explain the fact that Hockey Canada's financial statements have not yet been posted on its Internet site?
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
That choice was made by the organization. Obviously, I recommended another approach.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
How do you explain that some people who suffered grievous injuries or became paraplegic weren't covered by the insurance policies?
I suppose you heard of various such cases through the media.
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
I just have a general idea of Hockey Canada's insurance coverage, and I don't know why the people that you mentioned weren't covered, if that is indeed the case.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
According to one of the allegations, the referee did not see anything during the game and did not call a penalty. For that reason, Hockey Canada did not have to pay out.
Are Hockey Canada's partnerships with organizations such as the Canadian Hockey League and the National Hockey League transparent? Did you see any irregularities in these partnerships?
Hockey Canada has third‑party liability insurance, but its players are loaned. Do you think this gives it an advantage?
Do you spot any irregularities regarding players from Hockey Canada and other national sports organizations?
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
I didn't see any such irregularities.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Is there a procedure to be followed to ensure that the money is used appropriately when various funds can be accessed?
Did you make any recommendations in this regard?
Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, As an Individual
As you know, I recommended that the organization set up a policy framework that would govern the use of these funds. That would contribute to greater transparency, and the organization itself...
Conservative
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
—our time allotment here so we're going to go to the NDP and Mr. Julian for six minutes.
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Justice Cromwell, for your work on behalf of Canadians. As you are well aware, our committee has been seized with this issue with Hockey Canada, Hockey Canada governance, Hockey Canada's response to the most horrific allegations of sexual assault over the last few months. We appreciate your coming and answering questions.
I wanted to start by following up on the records and the mandate. Are there any records that you requested to see that were refused to you?