(Quebec) The deputies sitting on the parliamentary committee which last month heard the leaders of junior hockey in the country, in connection with the testimonies of violent initiations which shake the world of sport, will hold three days of hearings next week, from Tuesday to Thursday.
During his appearance before the parliamentary committee in February, the former commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ), Gilles Courteau, said that none of his teams was involved in the allegations of violent initiations within the three Canadian junior hockey leagues. However, La Presse revealed a few days later that Mr. Courteau had admitted in 2021 that he had noticed problems related to hazing in his organization. He has since tendered his resignation.
For this second round of hearings, the deputies will invite Danièle Sauvageau, advisor and speaker in executive and sports coaching, to Quebec, as well as Camille Thériault, former premier of New Brunswick, who produced a report submitted in 2020 to the Canadian League. de hockey (CHL) in which they noted a “systemic culture of mistreatment” and a “culture of silence” which prevents young people from filing complaints.
The parliamentary committee also wishes to hear Martin Lavallée, interim commissioner of the QMJHL, who succeeded Gilles Courteau, as well as Mario Cecchini, who will become the new commissioner of the league later this year.
In addition to these highly anticipated witnesses, the commission will invite the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Sylvie Parent, professor in the Department of Physical Education at Laval University, Michel Dorais, full professor at the social work and criminology at Laval University, Dany Bernard, doctor in sports psychology, Complaints Officer for the protection of integrity in sport, Félix-Antoine Michaud, lawyer associated with Trivium and specialist in work, as well as the organization Sport’Aide.
