Hockey Canada’s incoming board to be chosen by committee — not wider vote

Hockey Canada’s independent nominating committee will select eight directors and a new board chair from more than 550 applicants instead of putting candidates up for a wider vote, according to a letter sent to provincial and territorial members.

In the document dated Thursday, the committee said it was “hard at work” and “very encouraged” by the CVs received from Canadians hoping to head the sport’s national body after a scandal -filled six months that led to the departure of president and CEO. Scott Smith and the resignation of the board in October.

But the letter added that the committee was making “very difficult choices” to whittle the list down to just nine names that will be presented to members ahead of the Dec. 17 board vote.

Mike Bruni, chairman of the nominations committee, said in an email to The Canadian Press that the 13 provincial and territorial members under Hockey Canada’s umbrella have authorized the format, adding that the vote will be for the entire roster – not individual candidates do not.

The Calgary-based lawyer said with a “very thorough investigation and interview process” and assistance from an outside management consulting firm, the committee is “full of confidence” in the process.

Hockey Canada has faced intense scrutiny since May when it was revealed the organization had quietly settled a lawsuit after a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of the country’s junior world team. to a 2018 gala in London, Ont.

The federal government and corporate sponsors either stopped or stopped financial support, but the ugly headlines continued with the revelation of the so-called National Equity Fund (NEF), which is maintained by registration fees and used to pay unsecured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims.

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Hockey Canada then announced that members of the 2003 men’s world junior roster were being investigated for a group sexual assault before an official testified on Parliament Hill in July that the organization had paid out millions to victims since the late 1980s.

None of the allegations were proven in court.

The nominating committee’s letter said the body is made up of seven people from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.

The committee is appointed by the board chair, but Andrea Skinner, who filled the interim role after Michael Brind’Amour resigned in August, stepped down in October.

The move came on the heels of a disastrous performance before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which investigated Hockey Canada, where she defended Smith and said the sport should not be made a “scapegoat” for toxic culture that does not exist elsewhere. .

In its letter, the committee praised the “depth and breadth” of candidates seeking to fill Hockey Canada’s board following an independent governance review led by former Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell.

The report made a number of recommendations related to leadership, transparency and how the NEF and two other funds should be managed going forward.

“It’s impossible to read the resumes and cover letters and not have a very good feeling about the future of hockey in Canada,” Bruni was quoted as saying in the letter. “It’s truly amazing how the country has responded in such a positive way.”

Bruni did not respond to a follow-up email question about candidates’ names released ahead of the Dec. 17 vote, but said the transitional council, which will be elected to a one-year term, is “unique” and ‘ a result of “urgent priorities” outlined in Cromwell’s recommendations.

“The most efficient way to do this is through the formulation of a list by a nomination committee,” Bruni wrote. “The process could be very different in the future and will be in the hands of the new board and the members.”

He added that if the provincial and territorial members do not approve the group of nine proposed next month, Hockey Canada will not be able to move forward with regard to governance and the appointment of a new chief executive.

“Clearly not an ideal situation,” he wrote. “The nomination committee does everything in its power to avoid this by proposing the best possible list of directors and chairmen.

“We are more than confident of achieving this goal. It will then be with the members.”

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The committee wrote in its letter that it received information from police officers, teachers, business leaders, immigrants, surgeons, hockey parents, Olympians, Paralympians, politicians, judges and a pastry chef “that laid out a recipe for rebuilding Hockey Canada -organization.”

“The downside with so many willing to help is turning away outstanding candidates,” the letter said. “The tone at the top is very important.

“The Hockey Canada chairman and board will need to restore public confidence in their decision-making process right out of the gate.”

— With files from Rosa Saba in Toronto.

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