Hockey Canada and government face off in court

Hockey Canada has gone to court to stop the federal government from releasing sensitive financial information for the organization, it has been learned The Press. The publication of this data “would cause serious difficulties”, argued Hockey Canada before the Federal Court.

This litigation, unknown to the public until now, began with an access to information request, in the spring of 2021. A citizen wrote to the Department of Heritage to obtain “all Hockey Canada grant applications”, then to find out how the money was spent. The requester also wanted to consult all correspondence between Hockey Canada and Heritage Canada, between 2004 and 2019.

According to court documents, the Department of Heritage appeared willing to hand over “financial, commercial, scientific and technical” documents, which Hockey Canada says it gave to it “in confidence.” Prior to proceeding, the government notified Hockey Canada on April 29, 2021. This is the law, where a third party is involved. A few days later, on May 17, Hockey Canada vigorously opposed the release of the documents.

Why ?

In its initial application, the federation argues that the disclosure of financial and commercial information, such as the amount of per diems paid to its representatives, “would harm the competitive position of [Hockey Canada] and would cause him serious difficulties”. She adds, “Disclosure of information could reasonably result in significant financial loss to Hockey Canada, or significant financial gain to Hockey Canada’s competitors. »

Hockey Canada lawyers believe that Heritage Canada made “an error of fact and law in deciding to release confidential records” of a third party. According to court notes, the parties filed documents in court as recently as mid-August. No decision has yet been published.

My first reaction?

Strongly the publication of these documents. Especially after everything we’ve learned over the past four months.

When the citizen filed his access to information request, in the spring of 2021, Hockey Canada had not yet settled out of court a lawsuit of 3.55 million, filed by a woman who alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by eight members of the national junior team, in 2018. It was unknown that Hockey Canada had created a defense fund to cover the costs of sex crimes prosecutions.

We did not know that Hockey Canada had offered rings worth $ 3,000 to the members of its board of directors, after at least one conquest of the World Championship by one of the national teams. This information was confirmed this week by former board chairman Michael Brind’Amour. In his testimony before federal MPs, Mr. Brind’Amour also acknowledged that there may have been dinners of $5,000 or more for the board of directors, during special activities.

Why would you want to withhold this information? Why would you want to hide the amount of the daily allowance? Because it would be embarrassing? Are there other gifts, benefits and privileges that remain unknown to the public? What information can really harm Hockey Canada’s competitive advantage, knowing that there is only one national hockey federation in the country?

Everything brings us back to the very simple initial question posed by the applicant.

How did Hockey Canada spend taxpayers’ money before the Minister responsible for Sports, Pascale St-Onge, stopped paying subsidies this summer?

It’s a valid question. Of very great public interest, after the revelations of the last few months.

Everyone is convinced of that.

Excluding Hockey Canada officers.

With the collaboration of William Leclerc, The Press