(Quebec) The governance of the Quebec Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) is “sclerotic”, according to Isabelle Charest. Although she does not have the means to impose it, the Minister responsible for Sport is calling for more diversity and women on the league’s board of directors.
Minister Isabelle Charest reacted on Wednesday to the tabling of the report of the parliamentary commission which looked into violent initiations in hockey. The parliamentarians notably recommended that the board of directors of the QMJHL be completely independent and not include a majority of team owners.
“I think there is definitely a change to be made because the governance was sclerotic, because it was very uniform as members who were part of it,” explained Ms. Charest in a press scrum.
“For now, we’re going to let [the QMJHL] take a look at the report, see what they want to do with it, but, of course, I’m advocating diversity, a more independent board of directors and we’ll see the continued,” the Minister added. By “diversity” she means “more women, different cultural identities, and more outsiders.”
For now, only one woman sits on the QMJHL Members’ Assembly. “The more we have a diverse board of directors, the more it will lead to adequate governance,” argued Ms. Charest.
The minister nevertheless admitted that the government “does not have the means to impose” a reform of the governance of the QMJHL or “financial leverage” because Quebec does not finance the league. “It’s really like a private business,” she clarified. She says she is talking with the new commissioner, Mario Cecchini, and expects the league to make changes.
The report made public on Tuesday contains 23 recommendations and was produced by the Committee on Culture and Education following public hearings held in February and March on violence during initiations in the world of junior hockey and possible situations similar in other sports.
The members of the Commission assert that “all sports are affected by instances of violence or abuse”. “The phenomenon of violent initiations is not exclusive to hockey, but the sport’s popularity partly explains the greater number of potential acts and gestures,” it says.
Ten of the report’s twenty-three recommendations target the QMJHL. In a succinct statement, the QMJHL Commissioner’s Office said it “read” the report on Tuesday and intends to take “the next few weeks” to “fully analyze its content and recommendations in order to be able to respond appropriately.” to the members of the Commission”.