Former and current Hockey Canada executives, including commissioners from the nation’s junior leagues, are being called upon to address the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC) next Wednesday in Ottawa in Ottawa about the organization’s involvement in allegations of sexual assault by athletes in 2018.
• Also read: Hockey Canada scandal: text messages between alleged victim and exposed player
• Also read: Hockey Canada scandal: “A lot of people have lost confidence,” says Justin Trudeau
Hockey Canada President and COO Scott Smith, his recently retired predecessor Tom Renney and Hockey Canada Foundation President Dave Andrews will testify again before the CHPC, as they did on June 20 last year.
In addition, a subpoena was awarded to Canadian Hockey League President Dan MacKenzie, as well as Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioners Gilles Courteau, Ontario Junior League commissioners David Branch, and the West Ron Robison.
Finally, Glen McCurdie, former vice president of insurance and risk management, and Barry Lorenzetti, president and CEO of BFL Canada, a commercial insurance broker with an interest in Hockey Canada, will also speak.
All of those individuals are being held accountable for the actions of a young woman who said she was raped by eight junior national team players after a gala in Ontario in 2018. However, Hockey Canada settled the dispute out of court in May, which it revealed to have a fund used to cover sexual abuse.
fund change
In a statement on Wednesday, the organization recalled that it had initiated a full review of its governance under the oversight of an independent third party and changing the use of the national equity fund, which is no longer used to resolve sexual assault claims.
“Hockey Canada has also committed that all future contributions to the national equity fund will be earmarked for these safety, welfare and equity and insurance initiatives,” it said.
“It is common practice for sports organizations to maintain a fund to support victims of sexual assault. If, at the end of the review, Hockey Canada determines that such a fund is required, we will ensure that all claims are approved by an independent third party.
On Tuesday, several other players from the community, including Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge, will appear before the CHPC.