Hockey Canada paid out $8.9 million in sexual abuse settlements since 1989

Hockey Canada executives told a House of Commons committee Wednesday that they've paid $8.9 millionforsexual abuse settlements to 21 complainants since 1989.

Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith told the standing committee on Canadian Heritagethathe will not resign from his position. He toldMPshe's capable of creatingchange within the embattled organization.

Hockey Canadachief financial officer Brian Cairo testified that Hockey Canada paid$7.6 millionsettlement money for nine claims out of its "National Equity Fund." Cairo said the fund is generated by Hockey Canada membership fees and investments.

Of that money, $6.8 million was for settlements related to Graham James, a former junior hockey coach convicted of sexually assaulting young hockey players.

Hockey Canada came under criticism last week for usingthe fund to settle sexual assault claims, and recently announced it will no longer use the fund.

But at committee both Cairo and Smith defendedthe existence of the fund, saying it wasnecessary becausethe organization's insurance won't cover all types of claims. Cairo cited the James case as an example.

"The insurance companies were not going to insure us for those types of instances," Cairo toldthe committee.

But Cairo later said Hockey Canadasettled an additional 12 sexual misconduct claims during the same time period with $1.3 million paid through insurance.

"We haven't used money to protect our image. We've used money to respond [to] and support victims so we've used money to support families," Smith said.

Hockey Canadaannounced earlier this month that it will no longer use the fund to settle sexual assault claims.

In May 2022, Hockey Canada settled alawsuit seeking$3.55 million. The lawsuit wasfiled in April by a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by eight former CHL players after a Hockey Canada Foundation event in London, Ont., in June 2018.

The allegations have not been proven in court. The identities of the players allegedly involved and the alleged victim are not publicly known. The terms of the settlement,including how much Hockey Canada paid the complainant,are not public, and are not included in the $8.9 million figure Hockey Canada officials gave at the committee.

Barry Lorenzetti, CEO of Hockey Canada's insurance broker BFL Canada, told the committee that Hockey Canada's insurer for sexual misconduct claims, AIG Canada, agreed to let the organization settle the case using money from the fund.

But Cairo told thecommitteeearlier that Hockey Canada now intends to recover the money it spentin the settlementfrom AIG.

Lorenzetti said that was news to him.

"The subject, to my recollection or to my knowledge, never came up as to whether [AIG]would reopen the claim down the road if Hockey Canada sought from them compensation or indemnification," Lorenzettitold the committee.

WATCH|Hockey Canada CEO'prepared to face the consequences' after2nd day of hearings:

Hockey Canada CEO says he's 'prepared to face the consequences' after second day of hearings

2 years ago

Duration 1:06

Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith says that although he believes he's the 'right person to get Hockey Canada to the right place,' he's open to resigning and a governance review.

Lorenzetti said that, based onhis experience in the insurance industry, the existence of Hockey Canada's fund for settling claimsis not unusual.

"We deal with thousands and thousands and thousands of clients right across Canada and internationally. It is not uncommon ...for a corporation to have a reserve fund or a fund for uninsured losses or claims that aren't recoverable," he said.

"I think it's prudentrisk management and prudent practice."

Hockey Canada hired an independent investigator, Henein Hutchison LLP, after it learned of the alleged assault. Police in London, Ont., launched a criminal investigation shortly after. Atthe committee Wednesday, the Hockey Canada executives saidthe firm was paid between $280,000 and $287,000 out of the National Equity Fund.

Smith and his predecessor, Tom Renney,testified before the committee on the alleged assaultin June. Since then, thefund maintained by membership fees to settle sexual assault lawsuits came to light.Hockey Canada has also pledged to implementreformsto change the culture within the organization and address abusive and toxic behaviour.

London police recently announced that they're reopening the investigation into the alleged 2018 assault.

Members of the 2003 world junior hockey team also are facing allegations related to an allegedgroup sexual assaultin 2003.

Hockey Canada CEO says he won't resign

Members of Hockey Canada's leadership, including Smith, are facing multiple calls to resign and let a new team bring in changes to the organization and the sport.

Several MPs at committee expressed dissatisfaction with Smith's leadership.Conservative MP John Nater asked him if he'd quit.

"For the good of hockey, for the good of the countless volunteers across this country, the good work countless blameless people are doing in the sport of hockey, I strongly believe there needs to be new leadership within Hockey Canada," Nater said.

WATCH|MP John Nater questions Hockey Canada CEO during 2nd day of committee hearings:

MP John Nater questions Hockey Canada CEO during second day of committee hearings

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Duration 1:07

Nater asked Hockey Canada's CEO Scott Smith if he would agree to step down as his organization confronts allegations of sexual misconduct. Smith said he would step down if the board of directors decides his leadership is no longer needed.

"Will you do that? Will you step down for new leadership to take over?"

Smith said in response that he has no plans to resign.

"I'm prepared to take on this responsibility, for change within our game, I believe I've got the experience to do it," hetold thecommittee.

Smith said he's prepared to step down ifHockey Canada's board or a governance review team decides he's not up to the task. He also apologized for how the organization initially responded tothe 2018 case of alleged sexual assault.

"We should have done more, and could have done more, and could have done things quicker. And so I apologize for that," Smith said.

Bloc Qubcois MPSbastien Lemireand NDP MP Peter Julian also voiced doubts aboutSmith's ability tolead Hockey Canada going forward.

"The Canadian public has lost confidence in Hockey Canada. Of that there is no doubt," Julian said.

"I find this hearing today is really the last opportunity for Hockey Canada to establish some credibility."

Liberal MP Anthony HousefathercommendedHockey Canada's efforts to changebut said they're too little andtoo late.

"I don't think in any way they go far enough there needs to be a bigger cultural change in Hockey Canada than you're currently promising today," he said.

"There's times that good people have to step aside because the public has lost confidence in them, and I'm afraid this might be one of these times."

Nater, Richard Martel and Karen Vecchi, three Conservative MPs on the committee, said in a media statement following the hearing that Hockey Canada is a "secretive and unaccountable organization."

"It is clear that Hockey Canada sweeps cases under the rug and moves on," the statement reads.

"Senior management within the organization has not shown Canadians that they are capable of taking the necessary actions to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent acts of sexual violence from occurring in the future.This has to change."

Leagues say sexual misconduct cases not reported to Hockey Canada

Ontario Hockey League (OHL) commissioner David Branch, Western Hockey League (WHL) commissioner Ron Robisonand Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) commissionerGilles Courteautold the committee that while they wereaware of a number of sexual misconductcomplaints involvingplayers in their leagues over the last five years, they did not inform Hockey Canada about them.

Courteau said the QMJHLhas suspended two players over sexual misconduct complaints in the last five years.

Branch said there was one complaint of sexual misconduct directed at an OHL playerin the same time period. Thatplayer was suspended, he said, and required to participatein educational programs as a condition ofreinstatement.

Robison said the WHLhas dealt with two reports of sexual misconduct over the last five years. He saidpolice investigated both cases andthe players involved were suspended from the league.

All commissioners testified that they did not report the cases to Hockey Canada.