Hockey Canada says it is in the process of making changes.
It remains to be seen whether these moves will be enough to satisfy the general public, fans, the federal government and corporate sponsors.
The sport’s under-fire national federation made a series of announcements in an open letter to Canadians released Thursday, including the reopening of a third-party investigation into alleged sexual assault involving members of the country’s 2018 world junior team.
Hockey Canada said participation in the investigation is mandatory for the players in question, adding that anyone who refuses will be banned from all federation activities and programs, effective immediately.
“A good first step,” Sheldon Kennedy, a voice for victims after his own experience being abused by then-coach Graham James in youth hockey, said of the overall message of the letter in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. “Follow-up – they have to be able to speak with their actions.
“I hope they do.”
The organization previously said it “strongly encouraged” players to participate in the investigation into the alleged incident, which occurred at a 2018 Hockey Canada event, but did not make it mandatory.
Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith, who took over the role on July 1 and has held various positions with the federation since 1995, testified on Parliament Hill last month that “12 or 13” of the team’s 19 players had been interviewed before the original and incomplete the investigation ended in September 2020.
“We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 junior national team or to end the culture of toxic behavior in our game,” Hockey Canada wrote in its letter Thursday. “For which we apologize unreservedly.
“We know we need to do more to address behavior, on and off the ice, that goes against what Canadians want hockey to be and that undermines the many good things the game brings to our country.”
Hockey Canada quietly settled a lawsuit in May after a woman said she was assaulted by eight players, including members of the country’s 2018 gold medal-winning youth team, at the event in London, Ontario.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Smith, then the president of Hockey Canada, and outgoing CEO Tom Rennie were criticized by lawmakers in Ottawa for the situation last month after news of the alleged assault and settlement broke.
Unsatisfied with what it heard from executives, the federal government subsequently suspended public funding for the national body. A number of companies have also suspended sponsorships pending next steps.
“We recognize that many of the actions we are taking now should have been taken sooner and more quickly,” Hockey Canada said in the letter. “We own this and will do better to meet our responsibilities to Canadians.”
NDP MP and committee member Peter Julian said Thursday’s letter did not indicate that participation would be mandatory for all investigations moving forward.
“An apology is long overdue,” Julian said in a phone interview. “The pushback from the Canadian public, from elected officials, from sponsors was very clear.”
Kennedy’s Respect Group organization conducts abuse and bullying programs for parents, coaches, trainers and executives in youth and youth programs across the country under the umbrella of Hockey Canada.
“There’s a lot of mistrust that way [2018] initially the case was dealt with,” he said. “They have to build back the trust. And it’s like walking, it’s like doing the work. It is to be expected that there is a lot of negativity and a lot of skepticism, but I respect the language.
“It wasn’t there to begin with. That language was gone. The admission of wrongdoing was not there and I think it is there. And I think that’s the first critical step, you can’t move forward until you know where you came from.”
Hockey Canada said it will now require players, coaches, team staff and volunteers associated with its high-impact program to participate in mandatory sexual assault and consent training.
It will also conduct a full third-party review of the organization’s governance and is committed to becoming a full signatory to the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, a new government agency with the power to independently investigate abuse complaints and impose sanctions.
Hockey Canada said it will also establish an “independent and confidential complaints mechanism” to give victims and survivors tools and support to come forward.
Sports Minister Pascal Saint-Onge said last month that the federal money would be repaid only after officials prepare the incomplete third-party report and become signatories to the Office of the Integrity Commissioner.
WATCH | Government freezes Canadian hockey funding over sexual abuse allegations settlement:
Government freezes Canadian hockey funding over sexual assault allegations settlement
The federal government is freezing Canadian hockey funding after Sports Minister Pascal St. Onge said it was concerned about how the organization handled alleged sexual abuse by eight junior hockey players.
Hockey Canada did not commit to releasing either the incomplete or the full report to the government in its Thursday letter.
“We heard from Canadians, players, their families, fans, sponsors and those affected by what happened in 2018,” the organization wrote.
“We know you’re angry and frustrated with Canadian hockey — rightfully so.”
Hockey Canada said that once the investigation is completed by the same Toronto law firm hired in 2018, it will be referred to “an independent judicial panel of current and former referees who will determine the appropriate consequences, which could include a lifetime ban from Hockey Canada’s activities, on and off the ice.”
The woman who made the assault allegation was seeking $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the unnamed players.
Former Ottawa Senators defenseman Victor Mete, a member of Canada’s 2018 world junior team, has denied involvement in the alleged sexual abuse. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Hockey Canada said it learned of the incident the day after it allegedly happened, launched an investigation and notified London police.
The organization previously said the woman declined to speak to both police — police closed their investigation in February 2019 — and her law firm, but corrected the record when Smith and Rennie testified in Ottawa.
“Our understanding until recently was that the young woman chose not to speak to police,” said a June 20 statement attributed to Rennie. “We subsequently learned through her attorney that she actually filed a complaint with the police, who decided not to press charges.”
Hockey Canada added that the woman chose not to identify the players.
“We recognize the courage of the young woman involved and respect her decision to participate in the investigation in any way she chooses,” Hockey Canada wrote.
Ordered audit to determine source of settlement funds
Details of the settlement have not been released, but Smith testified before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in June that Hockey Canada found the funds and paid the full amount, adding that no government money was used.
St-Onge ordered an audit to make sure this was the case.
The commission will meet on July 26 and 27 to hear more witnesses. He has also requested a redacted copy of the non-disclosure agreement related to the settlement, along with a long list of communications from Hockey Canada.
The NHL is also investigating, as some of the players are already in the league, but suspensions will be mandatory. The NHL Players’ Association declined to comment via email when asked what direction the union was giving its members.
St-Onge said she only learned of the incident and the settlement when speaking with Rennie days before TSN’s original story. Hockey Canada said it informed Sport Canada of the situation in June 2018.
Tom Rennie, seen above in 2018, was the CEO of Hockey Canada at the time of the incident. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
The federation added on Thursday that it will release a detailed “Action Plan” that “outlines a wide range of steps we are taking within our organization and with our partners and stakeholders to progress and improve the culture” around the game.
“Changes to policies and procedures can occur with the stroke of a pen,” Hockey Canada wrote. “However, these changes are meaningless without an equal commitment to addressing the toxic behavior that exists in many corners.
“We know this change won’t happen overnight, but we’re committed to learning and working with our partners to do better.”
Companies that have suspended or withdrawn funding from Hockey Canada or specific events include Scotiabank, Telus, Tim Hortons and Imperial Oil under the Esso brand.
Hockey Canada received $14 million from Ottawa in 2020 and 2021, including $3.4 million in COVID-19 grants, according to government records.
Smith testified last month that Hockey Canada reported three sexual-abuse complaints in recent years, including the alleged incident in London, but declined to discuss the other two before the commission last month. He added that there have been up to two sexual misconduct complaints each of the past five or six years.
“Canadians have been loud and clear: you expect our national sport and those who represent it to work hard to earn your trust every day,” Hockey Canada wrote Thursday.
“We have heard you and are committed to making the necessary changes to enable us to be the organization you expect us to be and to restore your trust in us.”
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