Evidence of meeting #53 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was players.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10 a.m.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Mr. Marcil, you were saying yourself that the situation has not been resolved. Since the situation has not been resolved, why did you not choose to appoint someone else as captain? All of this could have been avoided; this is your fault.
10 a.m.
Chairman of the Board, Hockey Canada
Mr. Malo, those concerned are before the court. But for the organizations in question, that is Hockey Canada and the National Hockey League, the matter is settled. Usually, even when trials are underway and certain matters are being resolved, people continue with their lives. Lawsuits were launched, and we are waiting for the decisions, and we are getting on with business.
10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Mr. Malo, your time is up.
Thank you, Mr. Marcil.
Mr. Godin will ask the next question.
May 3rd, 2007 / 10 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to welcome the members of Hockey Canada and Sport Canada. Thank you for being here today.
In today's papers, we can read views stating that politicians should not interfere in hockey. It's becoming an interesting debate, which is leading to a great deal of discussion. It's as if you're on the ice with the puck, and don't know where to pass it. But the issue has engendered uncertainty. We are seeing the debate develop in a regrettable direction.
I would like to ask you a few questions. I genuinely believe that, as human beings, we should have respect for one another's communities, not only among francophones and anglophones, but among all communities of the world. That is how we will succeed in living in peace, instead of making war. Sometimes, it is minor incidents like these that take up our time and degrade the general atmosphere. I would like to congratulate you for the speed with which you appeared before our committee, to tell us how important these measures are. We can say we must
try to clean the air.
I think this is a very important discussion. In my capacity as a parliamentarian, I don't agree with the view that politicians should simply deal with Canada's problems and leave hockey players alone. Hockey is part of our heritage and our image. When I was elected as a member of the House of Commons, it was not so I could deal only with some issues and ignore others. Anything that affects the business of Parliament affects everyone, and we must answer people's questions. When there is $3.2 million of taxpayers' money involved, I think we have the right to ask questions and I don't intend to apologize to anyone for it.
That said, I do have a question. Have you read the deposition made by Michel Cormier, the National Hockey League linesman? Did you read the deposition he made under oath?
10:05 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Hockey Canada
I have looked at all of the information that went to the National Hockey League. I certainly did read his statement, and I also had a briefing from the National Hockey League on all of their findings. I don't have all the dealings of the National Hockey League, but I certainly have a good majority of their investigation. And again, respect, the word you used, is so important--respect in this room, respect on the ice--and it's what we try to instill in every program that we run in Hockey Canada with coaches, players, and referees. And we should respect the rights of Shane Doan.
I can't emphasize that enough. A lot of you may not know him. I've known Shane Doan since he was 17 years old--that's 14 years. He has represented our country eight times. He's a Christian. He said some words; he's said “fudge” quite a few times in his life. But talk to every player who has ever put on a jersey with Shane Doan. Please do that. I ask you, when you start to criticize an individual who is a proud Canadian, who goes over there and represents every youngster in this game of hockey in our country, and we put him through what we did, just before the Olympics, and now....
I get very emotional. He is a person we should not be talking about in this way.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Have you spoken to Michel Cormier or to other referees involved, such as Stéphane Auger or François St-Laurent, or linesman Pierre Champoux? Have you spoken to them?
10:05 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Hockey Canada
No, I didn't. I talked through the National Hockey League and through the people who did the investigation for the National Hockey League.
The reason that I have talked directly to Shane Doan in this case is because he's a member of Team Canada. He's the captain of Team Canada, and he has been criticized by the Government of Canada.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
There was a question earlier, to which I believe we have not heard an answer.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Mr. Nicholson, Shane Doan has not been criticized by the Government of Canada. That's just a point of clarification.
10:05 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Hockey Canada
Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Earlier, a question was asked, and I believe we have not heard an answer to it. What is the percentage of francophones in Team Canada right now?
10:05 a.m.
Chairman of the Board, Hockey Canada
In terms of players right now, out of the number of people participating, two players who have agreed to be on the team speak French.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
10:05 a.m.
Chairman of the Board, Hockey Canada
Well, there's Lombardi, who is from Montreal, but he's Italian. So we have Mr. Lombardi. Mr. Martin is also on the team. What happened this year—as Bob explained earlier—is that at the end of the season we asked francophone players whether they wanted to join us. But players refused, either for personal reasons or because of injuries. If they had not refused, the team would have francophone players.
10:10 a.m.
Chairman of the Board, Hockey Canada
We asked 9 or 10 francophone players to join.
10:10 a.m.
NDP
10:10 a.m.
Chairman of the Board, Hockey Canada
These are National Hockey League players whose teams were eliminated. When the first—
10:10 a.m.
Chairman of the Board, Hockey Canada
They refused for a variety of reasons. Mr. Crosby was injured. Patrice Bergeron and other players said no, some for personal or family reasons, and others because of injuries. At the World Championship last year, we had six, seven or eight francophones on the team. At the Olympics, we had francophones on the team. I don't think we should spend too much time on worrying about the make-up of the current team, but rather look at a wider range of data. This is a long-term process. We are preparing for the 2010 Olympic Games. It is important for us to have experienced players.
Anglophone players also refused to be on the team. What we want is to go there, be proud to be Canadian, and have the best players available, who want to compete. It's true that, this year, there may perhaps be no francophones on the team. Next year, there could be five or six. It also depends on what teams are eliminated.