“You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. This is how the president of Hockey Quebec explained the decision of his federation to suspend its dues to Hockey Canada. Claude Fortin now hopes that he will not be alone in turning his back on the national organization.
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Archival photo
Hockey Quebec oversees minor hockey in the province, including the U18 AAA Development League. In the photo, a match between the Blizzard of Séminaire Saint-Francois and the Albatros of Collège Notre-Dame in 2017.
The man at the head of Hockey Quebec’s board of directors since June wants a big change in the culture of Hockey Canada. And according to him, the staff in place does not demonstrate the values sought for this major overhaul.
This is why he decided that his federation would not send, for the moment, the sum of $3 per registration fee of its 80,000 players to the golden coffers of the national organization. He will keep these funds safe in a trust in Quebec.
What does this decision represent, besides a strong symbolic gesture since the contribution of members from coast to coast represents 2% of the income of the national organization? About $120,000.
The first of the two installments is due for the 1er December, as per Hockey Canada Bylaws. The other amount of $120,000 must be paid on the 1er april. Failure to comply would result in consequences, including loss of voting rights.
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Eyes on the assembly
Hockey Canada’s annual membership meeting is scheduled for Ottawa in mid-November. Big decisions should be made there, in particular towards the senior management and CA Hockey Quebec, the second largest federation in the country, has five votes, like that of Ontario. She hopes to get support around the table.
“We are ready to face the repercussions that our decision could cause. But we hope that Hockey Canada will not take us hostage, “said the president of the Board of Hockey Quebec, Wednesday in an interview with The newspaper.
The board’s strategy could change by then, because “young people are at the center of decisions”, he then nuanced, without revealing his cards.
- Listen to the interview with Sébastien Lemire, Bloc Québécois spokesperson for Sports, on Benoit Dutrizac’s show broadcast live every day at 1 p.m. via QUB-radio :
Knock down the dominoes
Between now and the meeting, other chapters should be added to the scandals that are rocking Hockey Canada. The dominoes should not all fall at the right time.
Former Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell is expected to deliver his report reviewing the body’s structure and governance. It should be remembered that this “independent” report was commissioned at great expense by the Board of Directors of Hockey Canada. According to information collected by The newspaperthis report may not be completed on time.
Last week, the Nominating Committee opened its mailbox to fill seats on the Board of Directors. The new CA will not be finalized until December 17 during a virtual meeting.
And according to other sources who follow the explosive file closely, other revelations are expected. Hockey fans and Canadians would have only seen the tip of the iceberg so far.
Former CEO from 1998 to 2014, Bob Nicholson, is expected to appear before the Canadian Heritage Committee soon.
So nothing to restore the confidence of the members of the 13 divisions in the country, including Hockey Quebec, which has completely lost confidence in the national organization.
A request, not an action
The Belle Province federation is a pioneer in its decision. There is no indication, however, that his colleagues will follow suit. On Wednesday, the Ontario Hockey Federation said it reiterated its request that Hockey Canada not collect the $3 registration fee for the current season.
A nuance on the decision of Hockey Quebec which decided to suspend its payment altogether.
“We are not fooled, we know that the members of the 12 other national divisions will not all have the same courage of their convictions over the coming weeks,” said Mr. Fortin, who did not discuss the subject with his counterparts or with Hockey Canada.
“We will see what people will do, he continued. We may be alone in our corner at this meeting, which would not surprise me, because from what I am told, they do not talk about this elsewhere in the country. But at home, we defend our values and our principles. »
♦ On Wednesday evening, restaurant chain Tim Hortons, one of Hockey Canada’s five major partners, announced that it was withdrawing sponsorship from the entire men’s national program this year, along with Scotiabank.
No contribution to the second fund
Quebecers would not have contributed to the National Equity Fund unveiled Monday, according to the words of the president of the federation, Claude Fortin.
Established in the mid-1980s, this second fund would have served to cover uninsured claims at a time when Hockey Canada and its members were self-insured. That’s what the interim chair of the national body’s board of directors, Andrea Skinner, tried to impress, without much success, on the parliamentarians on the Heritage Committee during Tuesday’s hearing.
At variance
The Toronto Daily The Globe and Mail had revealed that it had rather been used for settlements related to cases of sexual abuse.
Members of the Quebec federation would never have paid a penny, said Mr. Fortin.
“We left Hockey Canada’s insurance program at that time because we disagreed with it,” recalled the man who has worked in the world of federated hockey for more than 40 years, including 20 years in the upper echelons of Hockey Québec’s organization chart.
“We had organized ourselves. We then realized that it really cost more in insurance. We had joined the program after a while. »
In expressing his disavowal of the national federation, Mr. Fortin is stunned by the revelations concerning Hockey Canada. He regrets that the organization did not respond seriously to the requests made by Hockey Quebec.
The flowers and the pot
Enrico Ciccone, politician and ex-hockey player
Moreover, the MNA for Marquette, who was the official opposition critic for sports at the end of the last legislature, Enrico Ciccone, saluted the courage of Hockey Québec.
“I am happy that Quebec has acted. Hockey culture will change when leaders change. Buying silence never protects. By posing as a victim, Hockey Canada is showing consummate pathos,” thundered in a telephone interview the man who was re-elected in his riding in Monday’s provincial election.
In the same breath, the former NHL player also applauded the firmness and position of the federal Minister of Sports, Pascale St-Onge. She wants senior management to resign.
“She shows a lot of leadership. The federal government has a real sports minister. »