Hockey Canada executives told a House of Commons committee on Wednesday that nine complainants alleging sexual abuse had received $7.6 million in settlements since 1989 from a dedicated fund fed in part by membership fees.
Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith told the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage that he would not step down from his position. He told MPs he was capable of creating change within the beleaguered organisation.
Hockey Canada chief financial officer Brian Cairo told the committee that of the $7.6 million, $6.8 million was for settlements related to Graham James, a former junior hockey coach convicted of sexually assaulting young hockey players.
Cairo said the fund is generated by Hockey Canada membership fees and investments.
Hockey Canada says it made 9 National Equity Fund settlement payments totaling $7.6 million. The fund is partly made up of membership fees.
Cairo and Smith have both defended the existence of the fund, saying it was necessary because the organisation’s insurance will not cover all types of claims. Cairo cited the James case as an example.
“Insurance companies weren’t going to insure us for this kind of case,” Cairo told the committee.
But Cairo later said Hockey Canada had settled 12 other sexual misconduct claims during the same period with $1.3 million paid out by insurance.
“We didn’t use the money to protect our image. We used the money to respond [to] and supporting victims…so we used money to support families,” Smith said.
Hockey Canada announced earlier this month that it will no longer use the fund to settle sexual assault claims.
In May 2022, Hockey Canada settled a $3.55 million lawsuit filed in April by a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by eight former CHL players following a Hockey Canada Foundation event in London. , Ontario, in June 2018.
The allegations have not been proven in court. The identities of the players allegedly involved and the alleged victim are not publicly known, nor are the terms of the settlement.
Hockey Canada has hired an independent investigator, Henein Hutchison LLP, after learning of the alleged assault. Police in London, Ontario, opened a criminal investigation soon after. At committee on Wednesday, Hockey Canada executives said the company received between $280,000 and $287,000 from the National Equity Fund.
Smith and his predecessor, Tom Renney, testified before the committee about the alleged assault in June. Since then the fund financed by membership dues to settle sexual assault lawsuits has been revealed. Hockey Canada has also committed to implement reforms to change the culture within the organization and combat abusive and toxic behavior.
London police recently announced that they reopen the investigation in the alleged 2018 assault.
2003 World Junior Hockey Team Members also face allegations related to an alleged gang sexual assault in 2003.
Hockey Canada CEO says he won’t quit
Hockey Canada executives, including Smith, are facing multiple calls to step down and let a new team bring change to the organization and the sport.
Several MPs on the committee expressed dissatisfaction with Smith’s leadership. Conservative MP John Nater asked him if he would resign.
“For the sake of hockey, for the sake of the countless volunteers across the country, for the good work that countless blameless people do in the sport of hockey, I firmly believe that there needs to be new leadership within Hockey Canada,” Nater said.
LOOK | MP John Nater questions Hockey Canada CEO during second day of committee hearings
Nater asked Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith if he would step down as his organization faces allegations of sexual misconduct. Smith said he would step down if the board decided his leadership was no longer needed.
“Will you do it?” Will you resign so that new leaders take over?
Smith said in response that he was not considering resigning.
“I’m ready to take on that responsibility, for the change in our game, I believe I have the experience to do that,” he told the committee.
Smith said he’s prepared to step down if Hockey Canada’s board or a governance review team decides he’s not up to the job. He also apologized for the organization’s initial response to the 2018 alleged sexual assault case.
“We should have done more, and could have done more, and could have done things faster. And so I apologize for that,” Smith said.
Bloc Québécois MP Sebastien Lemire and NDP MP Peter Julian also expressed doubts about Smith’s ability to lead Hockey Canada in the future.
“The Canadian public has lost faith in Hockey Canada. There is no doubt about it,” Julian said.
“I think today’s hearing is really the last opportunity for Hockey Canada to establish some credibility.”
Leagues say sexual misconduct goes unreported to Hockey Canada
Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Commissioner David Branch, Western Hockey League (WHL) Commissioner Ron Robison and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) Commissioner Gilles Courteau told the committee that while they were aware of a number of sexual misconduct complaints involving players in their leagues over the past five years, they did not report them to Hockey Canada.
Courteau said the QMJHL has suspended two players over complaints of sexual misconduct in the past five years.
Branch said there was one sexual misconduct complaint directed at an OHL player during the same period. That player was suspended, he said, and required to participate in educational programs as a condition of reinstatement.
Robison said the WHL has dealt with two reports of sexual misconduct in the past five years. He said police investigated both cases and the players involved were suspended from the league.
All commissioners testified that they did not report the cases to Hockey Canada.
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