Hockey Canada’s federal funding is being frozen as a result of the national sports body’s handling of an alleged sexual assault and an out-of-court settlement.
Pascale St-Onge, Canada’s Minister of Sports, made the announcement on Wednesday.
He said in a statement that Hockey Canada will only recover its funding once it discloses the improvement recommendations provided by a third-party law firm hired to investigate the alleged incident.
“On Monday, the Hockey Canada testimonial did not provide us with enough information. We did not learn much, and what we learned is deeply troubling,” St-Onge said. “Hockey Canada said they would not share with the committee the advice they received from the independent firm (Henein & Hutchison) or how they planned. by John Doe This is unacceptable.
“Hockey Canada’s testimony also revealed that they had another case of alleged sexual misconduct by players over the past five or six years. I can’t accept this rule as usual in our national sports organizations, and the Canadians shouldn’t either. “
Hockey Canada must become signatories to the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, a new government agency with the power to independently investigate allegations of abuse and punish misconduct.
The move comes after Canadian Hockey President Scott Smith and outgoing general manager Tom Renney were questioned by members of Parliament earlier this week during a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage hearing on the response of the Canadian Hockey Committee. ‘organization to an alleged sexual assault involving eight players and the consequent out of … judicial agreement.
TARGET | Hockey Canada denies public funds used to resolve allegations of sexual assault:
Hockey Canada denies public funds used to resolve allegations of sexual assault
Hockey Canada executives told a parliamentary committee that it did not use public funding to pay for a deal after allegations of sexual assault against players.
Hockey Canada silently settled the lawsuit last month after a woman claimed she was assaulted by members of the world junior hockey team who won the country’s gold medal in 2018 in June of that year in a Hockey Canada function in London, Ont.
The 24-year-old woman was seeking $ 3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and unnamed players. Details of the deal have not been made public, but Smith said Monday no government money was used.
Hockey Canada received $ 14 million from Ottawa in 2020 and 2021, including $ 3.4 million in COVID-19 grants, according to government records obtained by CBC News and TSN.