Toronto, ON – The Greater Toronto Hockey League continues to move forward with its Integrity Action Plan and its dedication to transparency and trust in minor hockey. As part of this effort, the GTHL will present its Membership with Notices of Motion proposing amendments to its governance structure at its Annual Meeting on July 14, 2025.
The proposed changes are informed by:
- The Report of the Honourable Justice David Watt, serving as Special Integrity Commissioner (released April 2025),
- the GTHL Integrity Action Plan (released March 2025), and
- the results of the GTHL Family Survey (completed May 2025).
Together, these sources have shaped a set of proposed motions that aim to strengthen accountability, and sustainable governance, and create a more transparent and responsive environment for all participants.
- By-law Article III – Membership:
A new section empowering the Board to request an audit of a member or team when it is deemed reasonably necessary. This provision aligns with the one found in Hockey Canada By-laws.
- By-law Article IV – Control and Changes of Control:
Amendments aim to provide more clearly defined boundaries and requirements for the Board when evaluating any proposed change of control. These include the submission of statutory declarations from both parties involved in a proposed change of control, outlining the reasons for the transfer and the measures taken to ensure compliance with the necessary standards to maintain the Club’s not-for-profit status.
- Regulation 5 – Governance
In line with the findings and recommendations outlined in the Watt Report and as part of the short-term reforms, the Governance Committee proposes several modifications to address the shortcomings identified in the Report. Among these are:
- Enhancement of the information to be shared with families during player evaluations to encompass details regarding the goods and services to be provided by the Organization and the team.
- A new requirement specifying that a team must provide details of its program, including the number of practices, planned tournaments, on-ice and off-ice skills instruction, etc.
- Details on how the costs of any organization or team audit will be covered.
These motions mark a significant step forward in addressing the concerns identified in the Watt Report, the proposed reforms outlined in the Integrity Action Plan, and the priorities identified by GTHL hockey families.
As the GTHL continues to implement the Integrity Action Plan, several key steps have already been completed or are currently underway to address the recommendations in the Watt Report and the priorities identified by hockey families.
One significant step taken is the public launch of the first phase of the Parent Information Centre (PIC) in May 2025. The PIC is a new free, digital resource which strives to engage a new generation of families, provide ongoing support to current hockey families, while marketing the game of hockey – and GTHL programs – in a way that is transparent, inclusive, and accessible.
| GTHL INTEGRITY ACTION PLAN – UPDATE AS OF JULY 3, 2025 | ||
| APRIL 2023 | Appointment of the Honourable David Watt as Special Integrity Commissioner (SIC) and Mr. Michael Davis as Investigator | COMPLETED |
| JUNE 2023 | Issuance of the SIC Mandate Consultations with Member Advisory Council Member Forum to discuss allegations of financial governance | COMPLETED |
| OCTOBER 2023 | Member vote to amend regulations to require cooperation in connection with investigations | COMPLETED |
| NOVEMBER 2023 – FALL 2024 | Mr. Davis conducts investigations | COMPLETED |
| DECEMBER 19, 2024 | SIC delivers the Watt Report to the GTHL Board | COMPLETED |
| JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2025 | GTHL Governance Committee reviews findings and considers Integrity Action Plan development process and possible reform measures | COMPLETED |
| FEBRUARY 17, 2025 | GTHL Board imposes a moratorium on change-of-control applications pending governance reform | COMPLETED |
| FEBRUARY 2025 | After notice and opportunity to be heard, GTHL Board expels the Humberview Huskies Hockey Club and its president based on substantiated financial misconduct | COMPLETED |
| MARCH 1, 2025 | GTHL Members’ workshops (as part of Strategic Planning process) on risks of financial improprieties and brainstorming on solutions | COMPLETED |
| MARCH 26, 2025 | GTHL Board reviews initial Integrity Action Plan | COMPLETED |
| APRIL 3, 2025 | Public release of Integrity Action Plan | COMPLETED |
| APRIL 9, 2025 | Release of full redacted Watt Report to GTHL Members and public | COMPLETED |
| APRIL – MAY 2025 | GTHL Governance Committee conducts further consultations on such policies with: Member Advisory Council, Player and Parent Advisory Council, Strategic Planning Committee and advisors, Risk Management Committee, Finance Committee, GTHL auditors, other stakeholders, etc. | COMPLETED |
| MAY 21, 2025 | Public release and launch of Phase One of Parent Information Centre (PIC) | COMPLETED |
| MAY 2025 | Survey of GTHL families | COMPLETED |
| JUNE 2025 | Notice to Members regarding new policies/regulations via Members Forum | COMPLETED |
| JULY 14, 2025 | Annual Meeting of Members | SCHEDULED |
Full details on the proposed amendments and meeting logistics will be shared with GTHL Members in advance of the Annual Meeting of Members.
For more information on the GTHL Integrity Action Plan, visit: gthlcanada.com/tag/action-plan/.
ABOUT THE GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Founded in 1911, the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) is a non-profit organization, home to more than 30 community recreational programs and the largest minor hockey league in the world. The GTHL registers more than 30,000 annual participants in Markham, Mississauga, Toronto, and Vaughan. The purpose of the GTHL is to empower, innovate, and provide hockey experiences that foster growth, inclusion, and excellence for all participants, while providing an enriching, equitable, and inclusive environment that benefits all members and the broader community.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Coratti
Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing
Greater Toronto Hockey League
[email protected]