On the heels of another tense hearing with Hockey Canada's past and current board chairs defending the organization, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and MPs were unequivocal on Wednesday in their condemnation of Hockey Canada's resistance to making changes that they say are necessary.
"It boggles the mind that Hockey Canada is continuing to dig in its heels. Parents across the country are losing faith, or have lost faith in Hockey Canada," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on his way in to a Liberal caucus meeting.
"Certainly, politicians here in Ottawa have lost faith in Hockey Canada. It’s no surprise that provincial organizations are questioning whether or not they want to continue supporting an organization that doesn’t understand how serious the situation it has contributed to causing," he continued, referencing Hockey Quebec's decision to no longer transfer funds to the national organization.
Hockey Quebec's board passed a motion on Tuesday night, stating that it no longer thinks Hockey Canada is capable of changing hockey culture under its current structure.
Federal Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge told reporters on Wednesday that she thinks Hockey Quebec's decision "sends the message to the leaders at the organization that are holding on to their jobs, that Hockey Canada doesn't belong to them. It also belongs to their members, and they want change."
Asked if other provincial hockey bodies should follow suit, St-Onge said she thinks that all voting members "need to clean the house."
For months, federal politicians have been examining Hockey Canada's handling of alleged sexual assaults and lawsuit pay-outs, with all parties calling for a change to senior leadership and a full airing of the facts with a clear plan for reform.
During a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, officials faced a barrage of questions from MPs frustrated by continuing revelations about Hockey Canada's management of sexual assault claims and funding, with MPs demanding answers why Hockey Canada President Scott Smith hasn't been fired.
Hockey Canada continues to defend its handling of the matter, suggesting Tuesday that it's not worth the risk of lights going off in Canadian rinks should all senior leaders leave, and is claiming some of its actions have been mischaracterized.
The national governing body for hockey in Canada which has hired a public relations firm to help navigate the controversy — has also said it is working on addressing safe sport concerns, has made changes to how it uses certain funding, and has appointed a former Supreme Court justice to conduct a governance review.
However, on Wednesday MPs made it clear they don't think the steps Hockey Canada has taken are nearly sufficient.
"We need meaningful change at the top of Hockey Canada. Obviously the CEO has to go, and other management has to go as well. What we've seen over the past few months is a complete unwillingness to be transparent and complete unwillingness to make the changes necessary to ensure that Canadians have trust and faith in the leadership of Hockey Canada," said Conservative MP John Nater, who has been among the main questioners of the organization throughout the House Canadian Heritage Committee's hearings.
Nater, speaking on his way into a Conservative caucus meeting, said he thinks other provincial organizations should follow Hockey Quebec's lead.
More to come…
