Prime Minister Justin Trudeau understands the public’s frustration and disgust with Hockey Canada.
He shares many of those same sentiments.
Trudeau criticized the federation’s leadership on Tuesday in the wake of revelations that it maintains a fund meant to deal with allegations of sexual abuse.
“I think right now it’s hard for someone in Canada to have faith or trust someone in Hockey Canada,” he told reporters at an event in Bowen Island, BC.
“What we are learning is absolutely unacceptable.”
Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny since May when it emerged the organization quietly settled a lawsuit brought by a woman who alleges she was assaulted by eight unidentified players, including members of the country’s 2018 world junior team, following a gala in London, Ont. ., four years.
The organization has since had federal funding cut off due to its handling of the case and the settlement, while sponsorship dollars have been suspended by several corporations.
Trudeau, who added that the situation is “completely outrageous” when responding in French, said government support would remain frozen “pending meaningful reforms, transparency and accountability.”
The Canadian Press was first to report Monday that Hockey Canada has maintained the fund, which comes from membership dues collected across the country, to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims.
The detail was included in a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Glen McCurdie, who was 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 segregated account to pay for any uninsured liabilities as they arise,” McCurdie’s affidavit says, going on to say that “uninsured liabilities include potential historical sexual abuse claims.”
Hockey Canada confirmed in a statement Tuesday that it has a so-called “National Capital Fund” to cover a “wide range of expenses related to safety, welfare and equity initiatives.”
“The fund is also used to pay the organization’s insurance premiums and to cover any claims not covered by insurance policies, including those related to physical injuries, harassment and sexual misconduct,” the statement read.
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 is seemingly permeating the highest levels of that organization, I can understand why so many parents, why so many Canadians who take such pride in our national winter sport, are absolutely disgusted by what’s going on.” Trudeau said. he said Tuesday. “As a government, we will continue to be unequivocal in our condemnation of what we are learning.
“And mainly 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 in settling the alleged assault, which were first reported by TSN in May.
The woman had been seeking more than $3.5 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the unidentified players.
None of the accusations 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 members of the team, Cale Makar, Victor Mete, Conor Timmins and Jonah Gadjovich, have also publicly stated that they were not involved.
McCurdie, who retired in December, was not present for committee proceedings last month due to the death of his father, but the committee summoned him for a subsequent round of meetings scheduled to begin next Tuesday.
Hockey Canada published a carefully worded open letter last week with a series of promises, including a promise to reopen an incomplete third-party investigation into the alleged assault and a full governance review.
“We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 Junior National Team or end the culture of toxic behavior within our game,” Hockey Canada wrote last week.
“For that we apologize unreservedly.”
Smith, who replaced Tom Renney as chief executive on July 1, testified on Parliament Hill last month that Hockey Canada reported a total of three sexual assault allegations in recent years but did not discuss the other two in front of the committee.
He added that there have been as many as two allegations of sexual misconduct each of the last 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 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 original, incomplete investigation concluded in September 2020.
The woman’s attorney said in an email last week that his client, who was not involved in the initial investigation or spoke to police, “will be involved in the Hockey Canada investigation.”
The NHL is also conducting an investigation because some of the players are in the league, but it is not making participation mandatory.
“I’m very, very concerned about the culture, which has apparently reached the highest levels of the organization,” Trudeau said Tuesday of Hockey Canada in French.
“It’s essential, really crucial, that there is a new approach and that there is oversight, responsibility, accountability.”
With Amy Smart Archives in Bowen Island, BC
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2022.
Lemire also told me that depending on how the Hockey Canada hearings play out on July 26-27, he may request additional hearing dates for the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to continue investigating the allegations, and would consider asking former Hockey Canada players CHL to testify.
—Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) July 19, 2022
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2022.