The departure of the CEO is immediate.
An interim management committee will be formed to oversee the organization until a new board appoints a new CEO to lead the organization
announces the federation in its press release.
Hockey Canada confirmed the news Tuesday morning and added that all board members are stepping down as well. The latter will remain in office until the election of new directors, scheduled for December 17. Current members will not seek re-election.
The sports federation recognizes the urgent need for new leadership and new perspectives
.
“A first step” – Pascale St-Onge
Many voices have been raised over the past few weeks calling for significant changes at the head of Hockey Canada and the reactions have been quick.
In Ottawa, Federal Sports Minister Pascale St-Ongewelcomed this first step towards restoring the confidence of Canadians in Hockey Canada.
« We hope that Hockey Canada will actively work towards the transition to a new team whose expertise can guarantee better player supervision and an environment free from sexual violence and discrimination. »
In her press release, Ms. St-Onge adds that the case of Hockey Canada demonstrates that governance and leadership in national bodies are critical in managing cases of sexual violence, abuse and other forms of ill-treatment
.
Later in the followingnoon, the minister was questioned regarding the possibility that Scott Smith and the other resigners from the board of directors of Hockey Canada might receive severance payments.
For the moment, I have no information on that side, acknowledged the minister. We’re going to keep an eye on all that, but these are questions that belong first and foremost to the organization. From a moral point of view, I think that, in the circumstances, it would be good for there to be transparency on that side.
The minister also admitted that she regrets that there has been, to date, no formal apology or admission that there is a cultural problem on the part of Hockey Canada.
Late in the followingnoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed Ms. St-Onge’s remarks by calling the day’s announcement a good first step
. According to the Premier, there is no doubt that the real work begins now at Hockey Canada.
Trudeau. There is a culture within this organization that [fait en sorte qu’on] didn’t understand how serious it was. Obviously, it’s a good first step that the high-ups step down, but it takes work to transform the culture and regain the trust of Canadians and, especially, Canadian parents.”,”text”:”It took time. It took too long, lamented Mr. Trudeau. There is a culture within this organization that [fait en sorte qu’on] didn’t understand how serious it was. Of course, it’s a good first step for the high-ranking people to step down, but it takes work to transform the culture and regain the trust of Canadians and, above all, of Canadian parents.””>It took time. It took too long, lamented Mr. Trudeau. There is a culture within this organization that [fait en sorte qu’on] didn’t understand how serious it was. Of course, it’s a good first step for the high-ranking people to step down, but it takes work to transform the culture and regain the trust of Canadians and, above all, of Canadian parents.
Independent investigation needed
For his part, the Bloc Québécois spokesperson for sports, Sébastien Lemire, quickly expressed his relief following the departure of Scott Smith and the one to come from the board of directors.
After months of pressure from parliamentarians, sponsors, the media and the general public, the management of Hockey Canada has now come to terms with the facts. The investigations will have to follow their course and we continue to call for an independent investigation in order to shed light on the opaque and dated management that is taking place within Hockey Canada and to subject the organization to a real examination of its practices.
can we read in the official press release.
Hockey Quebec for its part declared that this outcome seemed inevitable to him and will allow the organization [Hockey Canada] to take a fresh look at the challenges
.
The Quebec federation was one of the first to publicly withdraw support for the national organization. Hockey Quebec now hopes that future directors will take concrete steps to effect in-depth changes in terms of respect, integrity and culture
.
She adds that she will be attentive to what happens next.
At the Ontario Federation (OHF), we recognize that the announced changes constitute a step in the right direction to face the challenges ahead
.
« This is a pivotal moment in the history of our sport and it goes without saying that confidence with Canadians must be rebuilt, both on and off the ice. »
The OHF promises to work with Hockey Canada’s interim leadership to ensure a smooth transition.
Echoes at the Habs
In the entourage of the Montreal Canadiens, head coach Martin St-Louis was questioned regarding the Hockey Canada file following the team’s training session on Tuesday.
Martin St-Louis
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jean-Francois Vachon
Mr. St-Louis, who took part in the Olympic Games in Turin in 2006 and Sochi in 2014, simply took note of the choices of the Canadian federation.
« Being someone who played for Hockey Canada myself, I find it disappointing to see the events that have happened, but in anything you have to take responsibility and that’s what they did. today. »
A long journey within Hockey Canada
Scott Smith’s reign as head of Hockey Canada was short-lived. The 55-year-old was named CEO of the organization last April, in replacing Tom Renney.
However, before taking the reins of Hockey Canada, Scott Smith held various positions within the national federation starting in 1995. The New Brunswicker, a native of Bathurst, was the chief operating officer from 2007 until his promotion in 2022.
Scott Smith
Photo : The Canadian Press / Jeff McIntosh
The body that governs Canadian hockey has been marred by sex scandals since May.
The national federation has amicably settled a lawsuit with an alleged victim who alleged he was gang-raped by eight members of the 2018 Junior Team Canada at a gala event hosted by the Hockey Canada Foundation in London.
The Canadian squad that took part in the 2003 world juniors in Halifax is also at the center of an alleged group sexual assault case. This new controversy erupted in July.
The London and Halifax police forces are each currently conducting an investigation to shed light on these various allegations.
