'There needs to be a bigger cultural change than you are promising': Canadian MPs urge Hockey Canada to overhaul leadership

Plenty of shocking comments were made in the first day, with Danielle Robitaille of Henein Hutchinson LLP, which was the law firm that Hockey Canada hired to be the third-party investigator for the alleged incident; Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge; and other officials from Sport Canada all giving testimony. The second day saw Hockey Canada’s former CEO Tom Renney, current CEO Scott Smith, and several other members of Hockey Canada and the CHL stand before the committee.

The incident in question pertains to the alleged sexual assault of a woman by eight members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team at a Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario. The eight players were accused of taking the woman to a hotel room while she was under the influence of alcohol and assaulting her.

Wednesday’s hearing included some harsh words toward the Canadian junior hockey establishment from MP Kevin Waugh. He said that CHL teams have incentive to cover up allegations and cases to improve the image of the players involved because the teams get bonuses when their players are drafted into the NHL.

Hockey Canada has been under fire for, among many things, its use of the National Equity Fund to settle sexual assault claims, and more specific numbers for how much was used, and how many times, were disclosed Wednesday. Hockey Canada had spent a total of $7.6 million of that fund dating back to 1989 to settle nine claims, $6.8 million of which was allocated to the Graham James related incidents. The $7.9 million does not yet include the undisclosed May 2022 settlement given to the woman who filed the lawsuit against Hockey Canada for her alleged 2018 assault. So far, $287,000 has been paid out to Henein Hutchinson LLP for the 2018 third-party investigation.

There have also been 12 uninsured abuse claims worth a collective $1.3 million, with one alleged perpetrator being connected to four of them, which accounted for $1 million in settlements.

Smith also made it known that he will not voluntarily resign as Hockey Canada CEO in the wake of Sheldon Kennedy’s comments on Tuesday. “Frankly, Mr. Smith, we agree (with Kennedy)… I strongly believe there needs to be new leadership within Hockey Canada,” said MP John Nater.

MP Anthony Housefather echoed that statement: “There needs to be a bigger cultural change in Hockey Canada than you are promising,” he said. “There are times that good people have to step aside because the public has lost faith in them and I’m afraid this might be one of them.”

Since this process has started, allegations in a separate case have come to light, with the 2003 Canadian World Junior team being accused of a gang sexual assault of an unreponsive woman which was reportedly captured on camera. Most Hockey Canada officials said during Wednesday’s hearing that they only just learned about the allegations as early as two weeks ago.

Hockey Canada mentioned that, in 2020, it put a system in place to track instances of racism, abuse, and harassment, and during the hearing it confirmed that the data from the 2021-22 hockey season will be included in its annual report to be released in November.

Committee Chair Hedy Fry said at the closing of the hearing that there may be another hearing in September on the matter.