Hockey Quebec suspends sending registration fees to Hockey Canada

Hockey Quebec has voted to freeze all fees sent to Hockey Canada this season, citing a lack of confidence in the organization’s current structure.

In a resolution obtained by La Presse, Hockey Quebec said it doesn’t have “confidence in the ability of Hockey Canada to act effectively to change the culture of hockey with the structure in place.”

Hockey Quebec also said it has issues with how Hockey Canada’s action plan was drafted. The organization said it was conceived with the help of a private crisis management firm, and found it “troubling” that no sexual abuse experts or organizations were consulted.

Player registration fees come out to $3 per player. Hockey Quebec will continue to pay the amounts used to cover insurance costs.

Earlier on Tuesday, Federal Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge called for regional hockey federations to pressure Hockey Canada to make changes.

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage questioned former Hockey Canada chair Michael Brind’Amour and interim chair Andrea Skinner about the group’s handling of sexual assault allegations while putting pressure on Hockey Canada to make leadership changes.

Skinner claimed that removing the current leaders would “be very impactful in a negative way to our boys and girls who are playing hockey. Will the lights stay on in the rink? I don’t know. We can’t predict that, and to me that’s not a risk worth taking.”

A report from The Globe on Mail on Monday revealed that Hockey Canada created a second undisclosed fund to help settle sexual assault lawsuits or other claims. The Participants Legacy Trust Fund was started in 1999 as a reserve by transferring money from the National Equity Fund.

Hockey Canada was criticized for having CEO Scott Smith – a centerpiece of the whole investigation – deliver medals to the women’s world championship team this summer. Hockey Canada also hosted the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and World Junior Championship, with the hosts winning gold at both.