(Quebec and Montreal) François Legault demands that the leaders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) explain themselves concerning the allegations of violent initiations perpetrated during the last decades in the middle of junior hockey in the country. The opposition, she wants the league to be convened in parliamentary committee, an exercise to which Commissioner Gilles Courteau does not close the door.
” It’s disgusting ! “, denounced Tuesday the Prime Minister. A judge of the Superior Court of Ontario dismissed on February 3 a class action request that had been filed by three plaintiffs on behalf of the 15,000 players who have played for 50 years in one of the Junior League teams. (WHL), Ontario Junior League (OHL) or QMJHL.
The judge refused to receive the class action for technical reasons, but he did not question the veracity of the testimonies. Among other things, it describes acts linked to underage players who report sticks inserted into the anus, genital mutilation and victims being humiliated by being sprayed with urine or excrement. “The Quebec Major Junior League, it’s time for them to explain themselves. I do not accept that they do not respond to your interview requests. It is very serious, what happened to young people, ”denounced Prime Minister François Legault.
In interview with The Press, the commissioner of the LHJMQ, Gilles Courteau, affirms that he did not give an interview immediately “since it is always the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) which spoke in the file of the initiations”. “The CHL did not speak in front of the media yesterday and, honestly, I do not understand why”, hammered the manager, who considers the situation “unacceptable, even disgusting”.
“It’s really disastrous for players who have undergone this kind of initiation”, he adds, saying he is also “willing to collaborate with government authorities, as we have always done”, particularly in testifying before elected officials.
Nevertheless, continues Mr. Courteau, “humiliations as they are mentioned, there is never anyone in the league who has come to tell me that he would have undergone this kind of initiation there”. “Never, it never happened,” he insists.
The commissioner also calls for caution, before asserting that there is a “toxic culture” in the world of junior hockey. “It is a social problem. These are problems that occur everywhere in schools, in companies, in society. I don’t want to deny that, but to attach the toxic culture to hockey: let’s say that we cannot completely eliminate all the negative elements in society, ”he says in this sense.
Gilles Courteau assures that his organization is doing everything it can to “supervise the players off and on the ice, so that they develop in a healthy and safe environment”. “It’s zero tolerance here. We have had a code of ethics since 2019, and players must sign and read it every year. They know that they are subject to sanctions when there are breaches. We were also the first to set up a player assistance program,” said the commissioner.
The latter nevertheless says he is “open” to looking at “other options, other ideas or other programs that we could put forward”. “We don’t have the truth 100%, and we don’t say we’re perfect, so yes, we’re open to discussion,” illustrates Mr. Courteau.
QS submits a mandate of initiative
Earlier on Tuesday, Quebec Solidarity (QS) MP Vincent Marissal had submitted an initiative order to the MPs who sit on the parliamentary committee on culture and education so that those responsible for the QMJHL, the CHL and the Hockey Quebec explain the measures put in place to protect young hockey players from potential abuse.
« On a des initiations ici qui peuvent servir à entendre des témoins et surtout à passer un message », a-t-il martelé mardi. La ministre responsable des Sports, Isabelle Charest, a répondu qu’elle n’a « absolument aucun problème à ce que des questions soient posées ». Les députés formant la commission parlementaire, incluant une majorité d’élus caquistes, trancheront dans les prochains jours s’ils acceptent ou non le mandat.
« On peut voter des lois. On peut retenir du financement. On peut faire de la sensibilisation aussi, parce que nous avons la chance d’avoir un micro. Si mes collègues […] agree to have a mandate of initiative, it is not to put on a smoke show. It is because there are people who are accountable,” added Mr. Marissal.
The MP for QS asks potential victims to file a complaint. “Go to the police. You suffered abuse that falls under the Criminal Code […]. Denounce. We are committed to supporting you in this, ”he said. His colleague Manon Massé, co-spokesperson for the party, added that the denunciations should not rest only on the shoulders of the victims.
“This is true for all assaults. Witnesses have a role to play. And I want to repeat to the victims that sexual assault is not prescriptible. If you experienced it 20, 30 years ago, you can act today. You can go to the police,” she said.
The interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), Marc Tanguay, also condemned on Tuesday the allegations of violent initiations perpetrated in junior hockey.
“I think that Quebec must ask itself the question: how can we better regulate this? At the end of the day, I think it takes a culture change, a behavior change. We will not be able to regulate behavior, but if we have to regulate, prohibit it, increase the penalties, and so on, we have to see what can be done, ”he said.
“I think we have to be careful before generalizing any form of welcoming ceremony for new players. But, if the welcoming ceremony is one of a ceremony of humiliation, there is an organization which is responsible then which must lay the ax by saying: “That, that does not pass”, for his part affirmed Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, of the Parti Québécois (PQ).