Speaking to reporters in BC on Tuesday, Trudeau said the fund is “absolutely unacceptable.” “I think right now it’s difficult for anyone in Canada to have faith or trust in anyone at Hockey Canada. What we’re learning today is absolutely unacceptable,” he said. “When I think about the culture that apparently permeates the highest ranks of this organization, I can understand why so many parents, why so many Canadians who are so proud of our national winter sports are absolutely disgusted by what’s going on,” Trudeau continued. “And certainly as a government, we will continue to unequivocally condemn what we learn and especially in our demands that things change significantly.” The Canadian Press reported on Monday the existence of Hockey Canada’s fund, citing a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Hockey Canada’s former vice-president of insurance and risk management, Glen McCurdie, that it is used to cover “uninsured liabilities include potential claims for historical sexual abuse.” Support for survivors If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted and needs support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services. For readers in America, a list of resources and references can be found here. The Globe and Mail on Tuesday reported that Hockey Canada created the fund using revenue from small hockey registration fees. The news intensified the spotlight Hockey Canada has been operating under since news first broke of a May 2022 civil settlement stemming from allegations by a woman who said she was sexually assaulted in June 2018 by eight CHL players, including some members of that year’s Canadian team. world junior team. When reached for comment, a Hockey Canada spokesperson told Sportsnet that the organization “maintains a National Equity Fund, which covers a wide range of costs related to safety, wellness and fairness initiatives across our organization.” The statements continue to read: “This includes, but is not limited to, player counseling and treatment, Canadian Hockey League concussion research grants, Hockey Canada staff criminal record checks, donations to the Kids Help Phone, as well as a number of safety 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 personal injury, harassment and sexual harassment. “The Fund was established in a manner consistent with the reserves held by other large national organizations. With that in mind, Hockey Canada has recently announced a full governance review that will help ensure we meet the highest standards Canadians expect and that will include the management of the fund.” Last week, Hockey Canada released a “Letter to All Canadians” in which it announced it would reopen its previously incomplete investigation into the 2018 allegations and also “retain an independent, third-party expert to fully review our organization and to make recommendations to ensure that our governance is tailored to the requirements of a national organization of our scope and influence.” Sportsnet confirmed Tuesday that prior to the creation of this separate fund, any settlements of sexual assault claims were handled through insurance. A source with knowledge of Hockey Canada said the fund was created under the leadership of former CEO Tom Renney. Renney retired on July 1 and was replaced by Scott Smith, who is president and COO. (According to sources, his retirement was not prompted by the allegations or the investigation.) According to The Globe and Mail, the federation’s fund “has exceeded $15 million in recent years” and “is used at the discretion of Hockey Canada and may be used to write checks to cover out-of-court settlements for a variety of claims, such as sexual assault claims, which are deemed uninsurable or settled without their insurer’s involvement.” In its statement Tuesday, Hockey Canada did not immediately say the source of the funds. Hockey Canada’s finances were already under intense scrutiny. When asked during testimony in Ottawa on June 20 about the source of the money Hockey Canada used in May’s settlement, Smith said the organization “liquidated a portion of our investments to pay for the settlement.” Last month, Canada’s Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge announced a freeze on government funding to the federation and called for a forensic review. The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has also launched a series of hearings, which began on June 20 and continues with scheduled hearings on July 26 and 27 in Ottawa with more witnesses being called by Hockey Canada as well as representatives from CHL, law firm Henein Hutchison and Hockey Canada Insurance Company. Liberal MP Chris Bittle, who sits on the Heritage Committee and will be present at Tuesday and Wednesday’s hearings, said there would be “some very difficult questions” facing the organization next week. “If you’re going to set aside a fund specifically for sexual assault settlements, we’re going to need more detail, we’re going to need better answers in terms of what’s going on, what’s going on in Hockey Canada,” Bittle told CityNews. Cormac Mac Sweeney on Tuesday. “What are the decisions behind the creation of this? What are the decisions that led to the creation of this, versus broader changes in the culture of the sport and deepening it?” NDP MP Peter Julian, who also serves on the Heritage Committee, called the fund’s existence “extremely troubling” and said it will be a central focus of next week’s hearings — particularly, he said, when it comes to the estimated number of lawsuits that were paid off by it. “Hockey Canada wasn’t transparent, wasn’t accountable,” Julian told Mac Sweeney. “He should get it right next week by fully answering those questions that Canadians have.” –With files from Paul D. Grant
