Prime Minister Justin Trudeau understands the public’s frustration and disgust with Canadian hockey.
He shares many of the same sentiments.
Trudeau blasted the federation’s leadership on Tuesday after revelations it maintained a fund designed to deal with sexual assault claims.
“I think right now it’s hard for anybody in Canada to have faith or trust in anybody in Hockey Canada,” he told reporters at an event on Bowen Island, British Columbia
“What we are learning is absolutely unacceptable.
Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny since May when news broke that the organization had quietly settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed she was assaulted by eight unnamed players, including members of the country’s 2018 world junior team. after a gala in London, Ont., four years ago.
The organization has since had federal funding cut off over the handling of the case and the settlement, while a number of corporations have suspended sponsorship dollars.
Trudeau, who added that the situation was “absolutely outrageous” when responding in French, said government support would remain frozen “pending significant reforms, transparency and accountability.”
The Canadian Press first reported Monday that Hockey Canada maintains the fund — which comes from membership fees collected across the country — to pay uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault claims.
The details were included in a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Glenn McCurdy, then Hockey Canada’s vice-president of insurance and risk management, as part of a lawsuit brought by an injured player in Ontario.
“Hockey Canada maintains a reserve in a separate account to pay for any such uninsured liabilities as they arise,” said McCurdy’s affidavit, which went on to state that “uninsured liabilities include potential claims for historical sexual assault.”
Hockey Canada confirmed in a statement Tuesday that it has a so-called “National Capital Fund” to cover “a wide range of costs related to safety, health and equity initiatives.”
“The fund is also used to pay the organization’s insurance premiums and to cover any claims not otherwise covered by insurance policies, including those related to physical injury, harassment and sexual misconduct,” the statement said.
Hockey Canada added that the fund was “established in a manner consistent with reserve funds maintained by other major national organizations.”
“When I think about the culture that clearly permeates the upper echelons of this organization, I can understand why so many parents, why so many Canadians who are proud of our national winter sport, are absolutely disgusted by what’s going on,” Trudeau said Tuesday. “As a government, we will continue to be unequivocal in our condemnation of what we learn.
“And especially in our demands that things change significantly.
Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith testified before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa last month that no government money was used to settle the alleged assault, both first reported by TSN in May.
The woman was seeking more than $3.5 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the unidentified players.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas, a member of the 2018 World Junior Team, released a statement on social media Tuesday saying he was not involved in the alleged incident.
Four other team members – Cale Makar, Victor Mete, Connor Timmins and Jonah Gadjovich – have also publicly said they were not involved.
McCurdy, who retired in December, did not attend last month’s commission meetings due to the death of his father, but has been subpoenaed by the commission for the next round of meetings scheduled to begin next Tuesday.
Hockey Canada released a carefully worded open letter last week with a number of promises, including a promise to reopen an unfinished third-party investigation into the alleged assault and a full management review.
“We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 national junior team or to end the culture of toxic behavior in our game,” Hockey Canada wrote last week.
“For which we apologize unreservedly.”
Smith, who took over from Tom Rennie as chief executive on July 1, testified on Parliament Hill last month that Hockey Canada has reported a total of three sexual abuse complaints in recent years, but would not discuss the other two before the committee.
He added that there have been up to two sexual misconduct complaints each of the past five or six years.
Hockey Canada said in its open letter that player participation in the third-party investigation into the London incident will be mandatory – unlike before – and that anyone who refuses will be banned from all activities and programs.
Smith testified last month that “12 or 13” of the 19 players were interviewed before the initial and incomplete investigation concluded in September 2020.
The woman’s lawyer said in an email last week that his client, who did not participate in the initial investigation or speak to police, “will participate in Hockey Canada’s investigation.”
The NHL is also conducting an investigation because some of the players are in the league, but it does not make participation mandatory.
“I’m very, very concerned about the culture that has obviously reached the highest levels of the organization,” Trudeau said Tuesday of Hockey Canada in French.
“It’s essential — absolutely essential — to have a new approach and to have oversight, responsibility, accountability.”
With files from Amy Smart in Bowen Island, BC
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2022.
Lemire also told me that depending on how Hockey Canada’s July 26-27 hearings go, he may request additional Canadian Heritage Standing Committee hearing dates to continue investigating the allegations, and will consider the possibility to ask former CHL players to testify.
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) July 19, 2022
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2022.
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