Canadian Heritage Committee on June 15th, 2023

Evidence of meeting #88 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 athletes.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Hockey Canada’s Involvement in Alleged Sexual Assaults Committed in 2018

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Don Adams Chief Executive Officer, Sail Canada

Wendy Smith Chair, Gymnastics Canada

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh

Thank you, Mr. Adams. We're going to wrap it up.

Ms. Smith, here's our concern as we're wrapping up our meeting here tonight: the Sport Canada governance report card. Gymnastics Canada placed 24th out of 62. You, as chair now, received a grade of zero out of five for board development, one out of five for conflict of interest policies and only three out of five for dispute resolution policies.

Do you see our concern around the board table here with Canadian Heritage? We're not happy with those marks.

5:55 p.m.

Chair, Gymnastics Canada

Wendy Smith

Yes, absolutely, and we are taking measures to change that.

As I said to you, we are working on our diversity. We've implemented many of Minister St-Onge's recommendations. We've already implemented those, and we are also looking at strengthening other areas. As I said during my presentation, we are a board that is looking to change. We are definitely looking for a new future—

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh

You need to change.

5:55 p.m.

Chair, Gymnastics Canada

Wendy Smith

Absolutely—we agree with you.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh

I'll go to Mr. Housefather, quickly.

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just wanted to quickly ask if you would instruct Gymnastics Canada that they have no right to withhold documents from the committee because of legal privilege. That is not grounds to withhold documents from the committee. Mr. Lemire raised it briefly at the beginning of his point. I would like it if you wouldn't mind instructing Gymnastics Canada that they have to deliver the documents regardless of their claim of legal privilege.

Thank you.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh

Thank you, Mr. Housefather.

You heard the request, Ms. Smith. We need Gymnastics Canada to produce those documents for the committee

5:55 p.m.

Chair, Gymnastics Canada

Wendy Smith

Okay.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh

All right. Do I have a motion to adjourn?

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON

I so move.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh

Thank you, Michael.

The meeting is adjourned.