Sports Abuse in Canada

Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_Canada_sexual_assault_scandal

In some ways this tragic hockey scene reminds me of Liberal, I think a cabinet minister, Dingwall's "I'm Entitled to my Entitlements" comments, way back when. Same sort of nonsensical out of touch people running the show.

It's just mind-blowing:' Experts baffled by Hockey Canada's scandal response

BAFFLED BY HOCKEY CANADA

The Canadian Press - Oct 7, 2022 / 3:11 pm | Story: 389447

Photo: The Canadian Press

Hockey Canada logo is seen at an event in Toronto on Wednesday Nov. 1, 2017. A corporate governance expert is baffled by Hockey Canada's recent response to intense criticism over its mishandling of alleged sexual assaults. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Experts say Hockey Canada's "scorched-earth" response to criticism over its mishandling of alleged sexual assaults could sink the sport's national governing body as we know it today.

The organization has been under intense scrutiny since the spring, facing mounting public outcry and calls for change. But despite frozen federal funding and fleeing corporate sponsors, both former and interim board chairs this week defended the current leadership in Ottawa.

“The logic of their entrenchment is beyond reason ... it's just mind-blowing,” said Paloma Raggo, a professor at Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration who teaches philanthropy and non-profit leadership.

“Are they willingly trying to sink this organization?”

Many organizations, from corporations like banks to charities and amateur sports bodies such as Hockey Canada, are governed by boards of directors. Hockey Canada's board oversees its management and staff, and is elected by its member provincial hockey federations.

Raggo said Hockey Canada’s bylaws include a mechanism where member organizations can call a special meeting to revoke individual board directors, and questioned why this mechanism hasn’t been used yet.

Former Hockey Canada board chair Michael Brind'Amour stepped down in early August ahead of the end of his term this fall. The next board election is scheduled to happen in November.

Hockey Canada has been grilled by Ottawa over why president and chief executive officer Scott Smith, who’s held the position since July 1, has not been fired amid the string of scandals. Interim chair Andrea Skinner defended Smith this week and said hockey shouldn't be made a "scapegoat" for toxic culture that exists elsewhere in society.

Raggo rejected the idea that getting rid of Smith would be scapegoating. Though he’s new to the role, he’s not new to the organization, and appears to be a symbol of continuity at a time when the public is calling for change, she said.

"It's a person that's been involved in that organization since 1997," she said. "It kind of defeats the purpose."

York University law and governance professor Richard Leblanc said the board's job is not to defend management, but to act in the best interests of the organization.

"I've never seen this in almost 30 years," he said. "It's implausible to see that the best interests of the organization are served by continuing a scorched-earth, entrenchment policy."

As the organization sheds sponsors and member support, it's clear that stakeholders have lost confidence in the board's ability to identify and respond to the risks that face Hockey Canada, said Christie Stephenson, the executive director of the Dhillon Centre at the UBC Sauder School of Business.

"Board directors' obligations are to the organization, and that also means its stakeholders," she said.

The board's role is to not only oversee, but to challenge management, said Stephenson — not to back them up when things go sideways.

There are two big questions being asked, said Stephenson: what kinds of consequences management of Hockey Canada should face, but also whether its current board is the right governing body to oversee those consequences.

Come election time, Hockey Canada's members will exercise their votes and make clear whether they want the board's current lineup to remain, said Stephenson, who teaches director training and board governance.

She said the board of directors should be asking themselves whether they are the right people to sit at the table — and answering honestly.

“Directors absolutely need to be aligned with the values of an organization,” she said. “And it's pretty clear that stakeholders believe Hockey Canada's values need to shift.”

Hockey Canada's mission statement, according to its website, is to "lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences."

The organization initially came under fire in May when it was revealed an undisclosed settlement had been paid to a woman who alleged in a $3.55-million lawsuit she was sexually assaulted by eight players — including members of the country's world junior team — after a 2018 gala in London, Ont. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The ugly headlines continued with the revelation of a fund partly maintained by minor hockey registration fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims.

Organization officials testified on Parliament Hill in July that the organization had paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and abuse claims since 1989, not including this year's payout to the London plaintiff.

Raggo likened the Hockey Canada scandal to recent stories about Gymnastics Canada and the WE charity, and said it's clear more oversight is needed of the entire Canadian non-profit sector.

Hockey Canada released an action plan to address safe sport issues and has appointed former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell to conduct a governance review, which Raggo said is a positive step.

But Leblanc says that’s not enough.

"There's only one right decision, which is a leadership change at the top,” he said. “If they don't do that, then the board ultimately is going to be replaced.”

The tone at the top is crucial at a time like this, said Stephenson.

“The board directors are ultimately the stewards of the organization. And if they really don't have or are unable to regain the confidence of their stakeholders, then it's probably time to go.”

Leblanc said that as it stands, there is no winning for Hockey Canada.

"The deck chairs on the board have shifted a tiny bit, but the messaging has not. It tells me that the board is in denial,” he said.

"It's a fallacy that this will go away. This will not end well."

Trudeau's suggestion that a new hockey organization could take over from Hockey Canada isn't as far-fetched as some might think, according to Leblanc, if the organization appears unable or unwilling to change.

"If the prime minister is smart, and I think he is, he's working on the legislation as we speak. I think sometime in the next couple of weeks, Hockey Canada may be ruled to be defunct."

https://www.castanet.net/news/Business/389447/-It-s-just-mind-blowing-Ex...

BC Hockey is Missing In Action

What gives?

Disgraceful!

Nonsense!

Changes will be coming so fast it is going to make Hockey Canada executives heads spin.

‘We’re a long way from that’: replacing Hockey Canada a difficult process, but experts say other levers can address the ‘deeply rooted culture of misogyny’

By IAN CAMPBELL      OCTOBER 7, 2022

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened the door on replacing Hockey Canada with a new organization.

Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge, left, pictured on July 26, 2022, with Isabelle Mondou, deputy minister at Canadian Heritage, at the House Canadian Heritage Committee to answer questions about Hockey Canada's sexual misconduct scandal. St-Onge has been ramping up pressure on Hockey Canada to address how the organization is governed. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Replacing Hockey Canada with a new organization entirely would be a difficult—though not impossible—process, but there remain many other steps that can be taken to reform its “deeply rooted culture of misogyny,” say experts in sports policy and organizational culture change.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) and Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge (Brome-Missisquoi, Que.) have been ramping up pressure on Hockey Canada to address how the organization is governed in the wake of Hockey Canada’s widely panned parliamentary committee appearance by interim board chair Andrea Skinner and former board chair Michael Brind’Amour on Oct. 4.

The most serious rebuke came on Oct. 6 from Trudeau, who said, “If we have to create an organization—get rid of Hockey Canada, and create an organization called ‘Canada Hockey’ instead—people will look at doing that.”

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The remarks followed a committee meeting that saw a rare display of cross-partisan MPs in broad agreement as they grilled the witnesses about what steps Hockey Canada was taking to facilitate a culture change in the wake of the sexual misconduct scandal that has plagued the organization for months. The two witnesses’ response was widely seen as coming up short, with Skinner saying she retained confidence in the current management, led by CEO Scott Smith. Prior to taking on the new role earlier this year, Smith had served for years as the organization’s chief operating officer.

Bruce Kidd, a University of Toronto professor who researches sports and public policy, told The Hill Times there is a “deeply-rooted culture of misogyny” at Hockey Canada, but the organization derives its jurisdiction from a multi-faceted set of factors, which means replacing it with a new organization is no easy immediate feat.

“At the moment, we’re a long way from that,” he said.

Bruce Kidd, a University of Toronto professor emeritus of sports and public policy, says we’re ‘a long way’ from replacing Hockey Canada. Photograph courtesy of University of Toronto

According the organization’s bylaws, Hockey Canada serves as both “the self-governing body of amateur hockey, including para-hockey,” and “represents Canada internationally” as a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Kidd said that for the latter, Hockey Canada derives its jurisdiction primarily because it is recognized by the IIHF as holding “the franchise” to be the governing body that sends Canadian teams to IIHF tournaments. This means the IIHF would need to recognize a new organization if it were to replace Hockey Canada in that role. In regards to its authority to serve domestically as the self-governing body for amateur hockey, that authority comes from the federation of 13 provincial and territorial associations that make up Hockey Canada.

Kidd said that widespread withdrawal from those federations could impact on Hockey Canada’s legitimacy to perform its domestic role, an act which could increase the likelihood of the IIHF recognizing another organization to serve Hockey Canada’s function on the international stage.

“Hockey Canada has the franchise for Canada,” said Kidd, who represented Canada at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics as a long-distance runner, and won a gold medal at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. “My guess is that if another body came along with legitimacy it would have to go to IIHF to wrest the franchise away and go with the support of others.”

The most serious rebuke of Hockey Canada came from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Oct. 6, who said, ‘If we have to create an organization, get rid of Hockey Canada, and create an organization called ‘Canada Hockey’ instead, people will look at doing that.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Robert Shepherd, a professor in the school of public policy and administration at Carleton University, added that Sport Canada cannot unilaterally replace Hockey Canada in either of these roles. Shepherd, who studies public management, ethics and accountability, said Sport Canada can still send signals—through its decision earlier this year to freeze the small percentage of the organization’s funding that it provides, for example—and through the public messages sent by Trudeau and his ministers.

Robert Shepherd, a professor in the school of public policy and administration at Carleton University, said Sport Canada cannot unilaterally replace Hockey Canada in either of its roles. Photograph courtesy of Carleton University

Jennifer Walinga, a professor of communication and culture at Royal Roads University, said that in the meantime, there is a great deal the provincial and territorial associations can do by putting pressure on the federal organization.

Hockey Canada’s by-laws state that the board of directors is elected by the member organizations, and the by-laws allow the members to call a special meeting where they can vote to replace board members, noted Walinga, who researches organizational leadership, culture, and change through a sports lens.

That structure means these changes can take time to play out, as the member organizations determine their position on issues through their own boards—because each of the 13 regional member organizations are themselves created out of local member organizations in a pyramid-like structure. For example, the Ontario Hockey Federation is comprised of a diverse range of organizations from the Ontario Minor Hockey Alliance through to the Ontario Hockey League.

However, activity is happening at the local level. Kidd told The Hill Times he has heard from colleagues in Ontario who say conversations are taking place about whether the Ontario Hockey Federation will opt not to collect membership fees this year, or collect and withhold them from Hockey Canada for a period of time.

Kidd noted that while it was reported earlier this week that Hockey Quebec had cut ties with the federal organization, what has actually occurred is Hockey Quebec has made the decision to withhold transferring funds.

While section 16 of Hockey Canada’s constitution makes provision for a member organization to resign, Hockey Quebec confirmed to The Hill Times they have not yet instigated this provision, but have passed the resolution withholding the transfer of membership fees, and they “expect Hockey Canada to follow up shortly.”

‘Actually, the lights are on’

Walinga, an Olympic rower who represented Canada at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul Korea, and won gold medals at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and 1991 World Championships, said she was struck by one particular comment that Skinner made at the committee meeting.

Jennifer Walinga, a professor of communication and culture at Royal Roads University, says ‘people are fed up’ with Hockey Canada and are pushing for ‘a path of change.’ Photograph courtesy of Royal Roads University

“If all of the board resigns and all of senior leadership is no longer there,” Skinner told the committee, “I think that will be very impactful in a negative way to our boys and girls who are playing hockey.”

“Will the lights stay on in the rink? I don’t know. We can’t predict that, and to me that’s not a risk worth taking.”

Walinga said her reaction to that was: “Actually, the lights are on.”

“Everyone’s flicked the switches,” said Walinga. “The kids, the athletes that are speaking out, the people that are fed up with the abuse—they’re flicking the switch on, showing the world what’s actually going on in sport. People are fed up, and the lights are never going to go off. We are on a path of change and evolution—frankly, of maturity—moving away from this bogus mentality that somehow harm is okay in sports. Sports is not about harm. It’s about pushing limits, not breaking people.”

That’s why the most important thing Hockey Canada needs to do is change its style of leadership, she said, regardless of who is in those roles.

“First they’ve got to do the restitution work,” said Walinga. “They have to acknowledge the problems of the past. … They have to acknowledge where they’ve let their members down with a lack of transparency, a lack of trust, and a misuse of funds,” that were used to payout sexual abuse claims.

However, she said they are “clinging to their style of leadership.”

“I think it has to do with a certain paradigm around power,” said Walinga. “The assumption is that if they give up their power, someone else will take that exact kind of power, which is very authoritarian.”

Kidd shared a similar assessment that Hockey Canada’s leadership has a deeply rooted culture “of my way or the highway.”

The approach taken by the witnesses at the Oct. 4 committee meeting drew a rare rebuke from the chair, Liberal MP Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, B.C.), at the end of the meeting.

Liberal MP and Heritage Committee chair Hedy Fry says MPs ‘had to pull teeth’ when questioning witnesses from the organization. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Fry told The Hill Times she felt compelled to do so because, as chair, “it’s my duty to make sure that the committee functions,” and when it came to these witnesses the committee “had to pull teeth.” That includes the fact the witnesses had to be subpoenaed to attend, and requested documents were delivered too late to be reviewed in advance of the meeting.

“Then I sat there listening—and this is a parliamentary committee, it is deserving of respect of the people who are there—and when you get asked a question, you answer it,” said Fry. “The hedging and the obfuscation and the not even answering the questions was, for me, a lack of respect for a parliamentary standing committee.”

Fry said the committee has one more witness to hear from related to Hockey Canada, and then will be moving on to a more general study of these issues, as the committee has been hearing of similar concerns from other sports.

The Hill Times

https://www.hilltimes.com/2022/10/07/were-a-long-way-from-that-replacing...

What nonsense.
He should never ever have been in that position in the first place. And what about the people who put him into that position, as well as the people who are supporting him now. They all need to go, as of yesterday.

Scott Smith's position likely to be topic in upcoming Hockey Canada meetings

https://www.tsn.ca/dreger-scott-smith-s-position-likely-to-be-topic-in-u...

'You're all nancies': The imagined thoughts of Hockey Canada's female leader

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/satire-dear-diary-hockey-canada-andrea-...

One thing is very clear: lawyers have way too much influence and control in our society and their influence needs to be severly curtailed

World Junior Hockey Championship on thin ice over Hockey Canada Scandal
Fallout over sexual abuse allegations continue, group calls for a ban on non-disclosure agreements.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/world-junior-hockey-hockey-ca...

World Junior Hockey Championship on thin ice over Hockey Canada scandal

Fallout over sexual abuse allegations continue, group calls for ban on non-disclosure agreement

Anjuli Patil · CBC News · Posted: Oct 07, 2022 5:25 PM AT | Last Updated: October 7

Voices in Nova Scotia are growing louder for change at Hockey Canada amid a scandal rocking the organization over sexual abuse allegations. (PhotoStock10/Shutterstock)

There's growing concern the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Championship set for Halifax and Moncton later this year could be on thin ice.

Hockey Canada, the sport's national governing body, is under pressure to make leadership changes amid its handling of sexual abuse allegations. Hockey Canada plays a major role in organizing the world juniors.

In a joint statement from Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold on Friday, the mayors said while they're excited for the tournament "... we are deeply concerned about Hockey Canada's lack of judgment and professionalism."

The statement goes on to say they are looking for "meaningful changes within Hockey Canada prior to the World Junior Championship taking place in our cities." The mayors said "accountability is paramount" and that the future of the tournament would be discussed with "council colleagues and provincial hosting partners."

• Tracking the fallout of the Hockey Canada scandal

• New Brunswick considers cutting ties with world junior hockey championship

• Hockey N.S. cuts off funding to Hockey Canada amid scandal

Earlier Friday, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said his province is considering cutting ties with the event. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said Thursday before the championships go forward "we need to see some meaningful changes that respect the concerns of Nova Scotians and Canadians."

Both Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey Nova Scotia announced this week they will not pay Hockey Canada its usual $3 per player assessment fee.

Hockey Nova Scotia said it "lost confidence in Hockey Canada's senior leadership." No one from Hockey Nova Scotia was available for an interview Friday.

The Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association supported the move.

"We're really, really grateful and we think it's hugely positive Hockey Nova Scotia have stepped up and taken the action," said Hawks president Craig Robinson.

Fundamental change needed

Robinson said he hopes cutting funds to Hockey Canada won't have an impact on games and tournaments in Nova Scotia.

"As far as we're aware, the insurance payments are being made so everyone is covered on the ice. It's a $3 assessment fee which goes toward the operations of Hockey Canada that's not being paid," Robinson said. 

Craig Robinson is president of the Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

Robinson said whatever the outcome is with Hockey Canada, there has to be fundamental change. 

"The people that have taken Hockey Canada to where they are now cannot be the people that take Hockey Canada forward," Robinson said.

Liz LeClair is a volunteer with Can't Buy My Silence, a group that believes non-disclosure agreements shouldn't be used to silence victims of abuse. When someone signs a non-disclosure agreement, they're only allowed to talk to their lawyer or accountant about the situation, LeClair said.

Non-disclosure agreement use

She said non-disclosure agreements are used by organizations like Hockey Canada to silence victims of abuse and harassment while allowing perpetrators to move on to the next place.

"Like most organizations, they don't realize these stories get out regardless of using these tools to keep victims silent," LeClair said.

Liz LeClair is a volunteer with the organization, Can't Buy My Silence. She said Nova Scotia should have legislation that prevents groups from using non-disclosure agreements to silence abuse victims. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

LeClair said her group was pleased to see Houston's comments on Hockey Canada, but said Nova Scotia needs legislation against the use of non-disclosure agreements. Prince Edward Island is the only province that has legislation limiting the use of non-disclosure agreements.

"It's something that we need to address," she said.

Nova Scotia's Department of Justice said there's no plan to bring any non-disclosure agreement legislation this sitting. In a statement, it said it "continues to monitor, and watch with interest, what is happening in other jurisdictions."

At a rink in Halifax on Friday, local hockey players weighed in on what should happen with the world championship.

Speaking at a Halifax rink on Friday, player Mike Mansfield said Hockey Canada's senior management needs to change. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

Mike Mansfield said the tournament should only be pulled as a last resort. He said the tournament and those who benefit from its economic spinoff shouldn't have to suffer because of Hockey Canada.

"Something has to be done about that senior management," Mansfield said. "It's despicable."

Gary Geddes said he thinks the tournament should go ahead because Hockey Canada has made some changes. But he said a decision should wait until November when the board could have its own internal shakeup.

"I really think [the world juniors] needs to happen for the kids especially. They're going to take the brunt of all this," Geddes said.

World Junior Hockey Championship on thin ice over Hockey Canada scandal

23 hours ago

Duration3:29

There's growing concern the IIHF World Junior Champions scheduled to begin in Halifax and Moncton later this year could be in jeopardy as calls for action grow louder for Hockey Canada to act amid sexual abuse allegations.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/world-junior-hockey-hockey-ca...

Hockey Canada's descent into scandal: From 'custodians of the game' to 'toxic' status

How the organization that calls itself the 'custodians of the game' had a remarkable fall from grace

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/what-to-know-hockey-canada-scandal

))

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/hockey-canada-yukon-trust-1.6609027

https://globalnews.ca/news/9188067/hockey-canada-andrea-skinner-scandal/

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/10/10/sport-minister-says-hocke...

https://www.thestar.com/sports/amateur/analysis/2022/10/10/were-not-bein...

https://thehockeynews.com/news/opinion-hockey-canada-could-have-avoided-...

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/bc-senior-womens-league-calling-fo...

Lightning suspend Ian Cole pending investigation of sexual abuse, grooming allegations

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/lightning-suspend-ian-cole-pending-investi...

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/hockey-canada-brenda-andress-1.6613126

There is nothing noble in the Hockey Canada resignations

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-there-is-nothing-noble-i...

So the old board is going to choose the new board? Let's see those severance packages to start with, eh!

Ex-Supreme Court justice says Hockey Canada's handling of fund used to pay sexual assault claims was flawed

Julie Macfarlane of the University of Windsor's faculty of law called Hockey Canada's reasoning a "completely disingenuous argument."

"It was never necessary to run the victim through the court process," said Macfarlane, who is also the co-founder of a campaign to end non-disclosure agreements called Can't Buy My Silence.

"If they accept liability, there would have been settlement negotiations and no chance of a court trial. They also did not need to bind the victim to secrecy and silence in an non-disclosure agreement. That was entirely to cover their own backs."

Report recommends larger board of directors

Provincial hockey federations met virtually on Wednesday after Smith resigned and the board of directors said it would step down. 

The provincial federations discussed the Cromwell report and are expected to meet in-person in Toronto on Saturday to vote on a series of recommendations in the report related to the voting process.

Cromwell's report also recommends ensuring better gender parity on the board, boosting the number of members from nine to 13 and extending the terms for directors.

The board of directors election was delayed by a month so this report could come out first, CBC News has reported.

The election is scheduled for Dec. 17.

When asked when Hockey Canada would release the full report publicly, the organization said "updates in relation to the ongoing governance review will be made in due course."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/report-commission-hockey-canada-uninsur...

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article/hockey-canada-board-resigned-aft...