Global Courant 2023-04-17 03:00:00
BRAMPTON, Ont. –
The Canadian government has restored funding to Hockey Canada.
Hockey Canada made the announcement Sunday — and Canadian Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge made it official — for the gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the Women’s Hockey World Cup.
“When we suspended funding for Hockey Canada, it was never a question of doing this forever. It was so that the right organizational change was made,” St-Onge told reporters from the CAA Centre. “I gave them three conditions, they met those three conditions, and now we’re restoring that funding, but it’s not a blank check.
“We are going to ask them to constantly report the situation to Sport Canada. We want to make sure they continue to move in the right direction and implement all the recommendations from both of the reports that have been produced over the last few months and we want to make sure that their action plan is actually making progress.”
Hockey Canada saw its funding halted by the federal government, while a number of sponsors have raised dollars since May, when it was revealed that a woman alleged she had been sexually assaulted by eight players – including members of the 2018 World Junior Team – following a foundation gala in London, Ont. in June 2018.
Hockey Canada and the woman quietly settled a $3.55 million lawsuit out of court.
The organization subsequently announced that members of the 2003 men’s world junior roster — the last time Halifax hosted — are also under investigation for gang assault.
It was also revealed that Hockey Canada’s little-known National Equity Fund — maintained by fees collected from players across the country — had been used to pay uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault claims.
Hockey Canada executives revealed in July that they have paid $8.9 million in sexual assault settlements since 1989, not including the 2018 deal.
In order for the funding to be reinstated, Hockey Canada had to meet three conditions set by St-Onge, including:
Become a full signatory to Abuse-Free Sport and the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC); Review and implement the recommendations of an independent board review led by retired judge Thomas Cromwell; And commit to more frequent reporting to the federal government.
“Today marks an important milestone for Hockey Canada in our journey to gain and maintain the trust of Canadians,” Hockey Canada President Hugh L. Fraser said in a statement. “While I would like to thank Minister St-Onge and the government for their vote of confidence and for their continued efforts to prioritize safe sport in Canada, I also want to emphasize that we still have work to do to enhance the culture of our sport. to change. .
“This is an important moment for the future of Hockey Canada, and hockey in Canada, as it will allow us to continue our commitment to supporting all levels of the sport.”
A parliamentary committee unanimously passed a motion on March 27, directing Hockey Canada to deliver a report from an investigation into the 2018 allegations by March 28. Heinen Hutchison Robitaille LLP was hired by Hockey Canada to conduct a third party investigation.
This was followed hours later by Hockey Canada who said players on the 2018 World Junior Team will not be eligible for international competition until the investigation is complete.
“Well, there are still police investigations going on, so they have to be extremely careful not to interfere with the ongoing cases that are going on with the local police department,” St-Onge said when asked if Hockey Canada had filed the report. “So we’re giving an opportunity to move these studies forward.”
Hockey Canada elected a new nine-member board in December after the previous board stepped down and CEO Scott Smith was ousted over the controversies.
Cromwell recommended that the new board serve only a one-year term, focusing on improving the governance and safety of the organization across the sport.
While Hockey Canada has yet to hire a new CEO, St-Onge expressed confidence and pleasure with the current leadership.
“I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the President of Hockey Canada as well as all of the board members, and we’ve had extensive discussions about their roles. I’m extremely impressed with the diversity at the table right now,” said St-Onge. said. ΓǪ They put their own credibility on the line by joining an organization in a time of crisis, so I know they’re there for the right reasons.
“In November there will be a new board of directors, also a new CEO. Their mandate is only for one year. Their role is to change the governance of that internal policy and initiate this change, and I think that’s what they do.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on April 16, 2023.
