Editor’s note: The following story deals with sexual violence and may be disturbing to some readers.
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OTTAWA – The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has issued subpoenas for witnesses from the Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League and requested emails and texts for hearings scheduled for July 26 and 27, as part of an investigation into how Hockey Canada handled allegations of sexual violence.
Former Hockey Canada Vice President of Risk Management Glenn McCurdy, Nicole Mulligan of Sport Canada and representatives of Hockey Canada’s affiliated leagues have also been summoned.
Representatives of a third party investigating the Hockey Canada incident, Henein Hutchison LLP, were called as witnesses to the hearings; Minister of Sports Pascal Saint-Onge; and President of Hockey Canada BFL Canada Insurance Company, Barry Lorenzetti. One MP confirmed that witnesses should attend the hearing, which is expected to take place in Ottawa, and not a virtual one.
The Commission also requested any non-disclosure agreements, with edited player and claimant names and copies of all communications between Hockey Canada and teams and players related to this issue, as well as all communications between Sport Canada and Hockey Canada. One MP confirmed that these messages would be appropriate emails, texts and any correspondence on paper.
Minutes were also requested from the Hockey Canada and the Hockey Canada Foundation, subject to client-client privilege, litigation privilege and agreement privilege between June 2018 and June 23, 2022, all until Friday, July 15.
“We need to get to the bottom of how Hockey Canada handles cases of sexual violence to better understand how to deal with it,” said NDP MP and commission member Peter Julian. “Canadians are shocked to hear about this situation and want to see action to prevent it from happening again.
“We want answers from Hockey Canada; last time we didn’t get answers from Hockey Canada.”
In particular, Julian said the commission wanted to know how two other ongoing investigations into sexual violence involving members of Hockey Canada were being handled. In testimony Monday, Hockey Canada officials said they did not oblige players from the 2018 World Youth Team to participate in an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by a woman. They also mentioned during testimony that Hockey Canada has had one to two allegations of sexual violence a year for the past five to six years.
The Heritage Committee’s demands came from a two-hour, 36-minute closed-door meeting Wednesday night over the allegations.
“I think this issue is something that should come first,” Julian said after Wednesday’s meeting. “Hockey is one of our two national sports – it’s something that Canadians grow up with. We are very proud of our hockey players. We are very proud of the players who carry a maple leaf. We need to make sure that there is a code of conduct that is strictly followed. And that’s something that I think Hockey Canada has dropped out of worryingly over the last few years. “
On Wednesday, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a proposal to request an independent investigation into Hockey Canada’s handling of sexual violence allegations in June 2018.
As presented by Bloc Quebecois MP Sebastien Lemire during the question period, the investigation will investigate the management of Hockey Canada on the allegations that came to light last month and, as he said in French, “find out if this is an isolated event or not. are shortcomings in the way Hockey Canada handles reported complaints of sexual violence, sexual harassment and other misconduct. “
Hockey Canada has been under scrutiny since late May, when news emerged that a lawsuit had been filed against a woman who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by eight Canadian Hockey League players. In the case, which was filed on April 20 at the Supreme Court of Ontario in London, Ontario, the woman said that at least some of the players were part of the youth national team of Canada, and the attack took place in June 2018 after a Hockey event Canada Foundation.
She has not identified the players and wants to keep her identity. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Pascal Saint-Onge, Canada’s sports minister, announced an immediate freeze on government funding for Hockey Canada earlier Wednesday.
St-Onge said the funds would be released when Hockey Canada fulfilled two conditions: it shared its report by third-country investigators in Henein and Hutchison and its plans to implement the changes; and become signed in the office of the Commissioner for Sports Integrity.
A Hockey Canada spokeswoman issued a statement to Sportsnet on Thursday when asked to respond to a freeze on government funding:
“Hockey Canada is aware that the Minister has set conditions regarding the funds that the organization receives from the federal government.
“Hockey Canada is deeply committed and actively working to promote a culture in our sport where everyone involved feels safe and that all Canadians can be proud of. We realize that as leaders we need to do more – and we are committed to doing just that. In the coming days and months, Canadians can expect to hear more about our work in this area. “
Government funding accounts for six percent of Hockey Canada’s annual budget, which is about $ 7.8 million a year.
– With files from Emily Sadler of Sportsnet
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