View from the Hill is a monthly series in which Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen answers questions about the major federal issues of the day in a video format.
Newmarket-Aurora Liberal MP Tony Van Bynen suggested it may be time for leadership change at Hockey Canada as it falls under scrutiny for abuse allegations.
The federal government is investigating the national sporting body after it settled for an alleged 2018 group sexual assault involving its junior players. Hearings have been ongoing throughout this week.
In this month’s View From the Hill, NewmarketToday sought Van Bynen’s thoughts on the controversy. The regular video series offers updates from Ottawa. NewmarketToday provides topics of discussion before the interview, but not specific questions.
A summary of the interview is below:
Q: Ottawa and the country are gripped by a scandal over how Hockey Canada handled an alleged assault and how it handles abuse allegations in general. There are ongoing hearings in Ottawa on the matter right now. What’s your outlook on what we’ve heard and where Hockey Canada goes from here?
“We’re shocked this kind of thing even occurred, let alone persisted for the length of the time it has,” Van Bynen said, adding he questions why the scrutiny did not happen sooner. “Everyone in Canada is concerned with having their children looked after. They have a right to be safe, and that’s been violated, and that needs to be investigated.”
When asked about calls for leadership at Hockey Canada to resign, Van Bynen said that could be needed.
“When an organization needs substantive change, then perhaps that needs to start at the board level,” he said. “The board has a responsibility to set the tone and the values, and the standards for the organization. And if those elements have not lived up to the standards of the people that they’re serving, then there should be a change.”
Q: The federal government is examining its 2030 climate targets for the oil and gas sector. It is having conversations around a limited extension to 2032. What’s your impression? What would you say to those who say this is an area we should not have an extension for given the severity of the climate crisis?
“I don’t think we can approach things as a one-size fits all,” he said, adding that Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault has said, “under no circumstances have we compromised our overall goals and objectives.”
There will need to be some flexibility inside certain industries, Van Bynen said, adding he believes that is the right approach.
“This represents a very substantial part of our economy, and we can’t totally cripple them,” he said. “But on the same note, we have to make sure Canada does reach its goals and that everyone contributes.”
Q: The pope is visiting Canada to apologize for the harms the residential school system, and the church specifically, inflicted on Indigenous peoples. How would you reflect on what this means for reconciliation and what comes next?
“This is a significant step forward and a very genuine and sincere message,” Van Bynen said. “It’s part of the truth and reconciliation commitments that we’ve made as a government, and it’s good to see the Catholic church is doing their part ... in acknowledging their role."
