“My final term ends in November 2022 and I know I don’t need to wait for a new era. Immediate action is necessary to address the significant challenges facing our organization and our sport,” Brind’Amour said via news release of Hockey Canada. release. Hockey Canada’s board and members will meet in the coming days to determine next steps and name an interim president. The next board election is scheduled for the annual meeting in November. In June, the organization’s access to public funds was frozen by the federal government over its response to an alleged sexual assault and subsequent out-of-court settlement. A woman filed a $3.5 million lawsuit in April alleging that in 2018, eight hockey players, including members of Canada’s world junior team, sexually assaulted her. Hockey Canada agreed to a young woman next month. The complainant says she has always cooperated fully with a police investigation into her case, despite Hockey Canada initially saying she would not. COMING LIVE | The Sports Minister will discuss the recent meeting with the Provincial Sports Ministers:
Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge will discuss a recent meeting with provincial sports ministers
Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge is meeting with her provincial counterparts as Hockey Canada faces criticism over its handling of sexual assault allegations against professional hockey players. Recently, retail giant Canadian Tire and telecommunications company Telus, among others, ended their sponsorships of Hockey Canada. And last month, Hockey Canada officials testified before a House of Commons committee Wednesday that they have paid $8.9 million in sexual abuse settlements to 21 whistleblowers since 1989 from the National Equity Fund, which they said , is generated by member subscriptions and investments. WATCHES | Hockey Canada has paid 21 sexual harassment settlements since 1989
Hockey Canada has paid 21 sexual harassment settlements since 1989
Hockey Canada officials have revealed that the organization has paid almost $9 million in settlements since 1989 to 21 people making allegations of sexual misconduct. “I listened carefully and attentively to Canadians’ feedback about our sport culture and our organization, as well as our actions and leadership,” Brind’Amour said in a statement. “I understand that the actions we have taken in recent weeks are part of the solution. “I am confident that the Honorable Thomas Cromwell, CC, has agreed to lead a governance review of our organization that will help us make the changes that are needed. I am confident that the recommendations will lead the organization to a future of desirable change.” On Friday, Canada’s 13 regional hockey federations announced they are threatening to withhold dues payments from Hockey Canada in light of the organization’s alleged mishandling of sexual assault allegations in 2018. Led by Hockey Quebec, the organizations sent a letter Thursday asking for a detailed action plan and an “emergency” meeting by the end of November to address their concerns. The statement of claim, which has not been proven in court, said the hockey players brought golf clubs into the hotel room to further intimidate her, directed the woman to shower after the sexual assault and told her to say she was sober while they filmed a consent video. ATTENTION: Hockey Canada will ban players who do not cooperate with the investigation:
Lawyer Danielle Robitaille says Hockey Canada will ban players who do not participate in the investigation
Robitaille appeared before a House of Commons standing committee looking into allegations of sexual abuse in sport. Robitaille said legal counsel for eight of the nine players she has not spoken with told her they are concerned about being qualified by Hockey Canada. As first reported by the Globe and Mail earlier this week, the complainant’s attorney Robert Talach released a statement saying his client was clear to police in June 2018 that she wanted criminal charges to be brought. Talach provided a number of new details about the case, including that his client spoke with a detective within days of the alleged sexual assault and had a physical exam at a hospital. His client also later gave her clothes to police for examination and met with officers on two other occasions that summer, Talach said. After seven months, she was told the investigation was closed and no charges would be filed. Following an outpouring of public outrage, London’s police chief recently announced he would conduct an internal review to “determine what, if any, additional avenues of inquiry”. Talach said his law firm created a polygraph test for the woman and she passed. The results have since been given to police and Hockey Canada investigators and the NHL, which launched its own investigation in May. Talach confirmed that his client will not sit down for an interview with Hockey Canada or NHL investigators because she has already provided an eight-page statement, five pages of photos and 4.5 pages of text messages.
