Hockey Quebec is perhaps the first provincial federation to say that it will withhold until further notice the $3 participation fee that players pay to Hockey Canada each year. However, the main Ontario federation expressed this intention as early as July.
Posted at 3:45 p.m.
In a written statement provided to The Press, Phillip McKee, executive director of the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF), says he asked Michael Brind’Amour, who was then chairman of Hockey Canada’s board of directors, on July 29 that Hockey Canada not collect $3 per player for the 2022-2023 season. “Our understanding is that this request was never transmitted to the Board of Directors” before the resignation of Mr. Brind’Amour, a week later.
“We have therefore renewed our formal request to Hockey Canada,” added Mr. McKee, who did not specify whether this time he got the answer he wanted.
It was not possible to validate Mr. McKee’s version with Mr. Brind’Amour or with Hockey Canada.
The HOF is “monitoring the situation at Hockey Canada”, concludes its director, “because we aspire to create a significant and effective change” in the culture of sport in the country.
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, has three federations that are members of Hockey Canada — the other two being concentrated in the northern and eastern regions of the province. The FOH is however the one that includes the most players.
PHOTO THE CANADIAN PRESS
Hockey Quebec has confirmed that it is suspending the transfer of $3 per registration usually paid to Hockey Canada.
The Press reported this Wednesday morning that the Board of Hockey Quebec had voted in favor of a resolution of disallowance against Hockey Canada. In particular, it states that it does not believe that the management in place is in a position to bring about major structural changes within the organization. Hockey Quebec has also confirmed that it is suspending the transfer of $3 per registration usually paid to Hockey Canada.
The Press communicated with all the federations in the country. By mid-afternoon, Wednesday, only Hockey Quebec and the FOH had established such strong positions.
In a succinct email, Hockey Saskatchewan wrote that it had no “comment” to make on Hockey Quebec’s decision.
Hockey Nova Scotia, for its part, indicated “closely following the situation in Quebec as well as the review of the governance of Hockey Canada led by Judge Thomas Cromwell”. The Nova Scotia entity has not yet decided on the “next steps” it will take. Its board of directors will meet next week to discuss it.
All the provincial federations had nevertheless announced their colors during the summer. At the beginning of August, the 13 authorities representing the provinces and territories of the country had, with one voice, posed an ultimatum to Hockey Canada.
Not only was the organization required to provide detailed information on its management of the 2018 events, but the payment of dues for the 2022-2023 season was also made conditional on an exhaustive and transparent.
A list of eight demands had been established, in particular concerning the deployment and supervision of the Action Plan to improve hockey in Canada unveiled by Hockey Canada a few days earlier. The rapid development of this document has been criticized by experts and academics, who consider it incomplete.