Hockey Canada executives were under fire Monday as parliamentarians grilled the organization over its handling of an alleged sexual assault four years ago that resulted in a settled lawsuit last month.
Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney and president Scott Smith were among the witnesses called to testify before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa.
Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit in May after a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight members of the countryB次元官网网址檚 2018 world junior hockey team at a gala event in June of that year.
The plaintiff, identified as B次元官网网址淓.M.B次元官网网址� in court records, claimed she was repeatedly assaulted while intoxicated in a London, Ont., hotel room after a Hockey Canada event. The woman, now 24, was seeking $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the unnamed players.
Smith, whoB次元官网网址檚 set to take over for the outgoing Renney as CEO on July 1, told the committee that members of the countryB次元官网网址檚 gold-medal winning world junior team were B次元官网网址渟trongly encouragedB次元官网网址� to speak with third-party investigators hired by Hockey Canada.
It was not, however, made mandatory.
B次元官网网址淢r. Smith, if you want real accountability from Hockey Canada, you should have demanded all players participate in the interviews (with the outside law firm),B次元官网网址� Conservative MP Kevin Waugh said. B次元官网网址淵ou own that B次元官网网址� that is unacceptable.B次元官网网址�
Smith, who is also the national sport bodyB次元官网网址檚 COO, responded by saying that Hockey Canada B次元官网网址渂orrowsB次元官网网址� players from other leagues for international competitions.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e made some changes to our code of conduct,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e having discussions right now as to whether or not we can strengthen the ability to compel players that we borrow to participate in investigations regarding what happens under our care.B次元官网网址�
Bloc Quebecois MP Sebastien Lemire suggested in French that Hockey Canada play without its logo for a year B次元官网网址渟o that people will think about this issue B次元官网网址� culture in Hockey Canada and the responsibility that you have. I believe that (Hockey Canada is) John Doe No. 9 in this case.B次元官网网址�
Renney said Hockey Canada first learned of the alleged incident the following morning B次元官网网址� June 19, 2018 B次元官网网址� when the womanB次元官网网址檚 stepfather contacted its human resources department, and that police in London were informed that evening.
Smith said even though it took four years for the story to come out, and only after TSN was first to report the details last month, there wasnB次元官网网址檛 a coverup.
B次元官网网址淭he police were notified, we engaged a third-party investigator, we notified Sport Canada, and we offered support to the young woman,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not an indication of sweeping something under the rug.B次元官网网址�
Details of the settlement with the woman have not been released, but Smith said the players alleged to be involved did not contribute financially and no government money was used.
None of the allegations against the players have been proven in court.
Smith was asked if the settlement is covered by a non-disclosure agreement.
B次元官网网址淭he minutes of settlement are covered under settlement privilege,B次元官网网址� he replied.
Hockey Canada added it has yet to identify the players alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman because its investigation is incomplete.
Smith said 12 to 13 players took part in the investigation initiated by the sportB次元官网网址檚 governing body. Renney said earlier Monday that it was his belief the number was between four and six.
Smith was asked if any coaches or trainers were involved in the alleged incident.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 believe so,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut I canB次元官网网址檛 confirm.B次元官网网址�
Hockey Canada has said the woman chose not to speak with police or its independent investigator. Smith and Renney reiterated Monday the woman also elected not to identify the players.
Smith said London police informed Hockey Canada its criminal investigation was closed as of February 2019. Hockey Canada, meanwhile, kept its own investigation open through September 2020.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people are taking the allegations in the statement of claim as fact,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淭he challenge that we had is through extensive efforts over a 26-month period, we were not able to confirm what happened that evening.B次元官网网址�
The NHL, meanwhile, is in the process of conducting its own investigation because a number of players from that world junior team are now in the league, while CanadaB次元官网网址檚 sports minister ordered a forensic audit of Hockey Canada.
Pascale St-Onge told the committee Monday after the Hockey Canada executives testified that she first learned of the alleged assault and settlement when Renney called her two days before TSNB次元官网网址檚 report.
B次元官网网址淚 was absolutely outraged with what I read,B次元官网网址� St-Onge told the committee in French. B次元官网网址淎nd as all Canadians, I asked myself questions on the accountability of the players and the reasons why Hockey Canada would reach an out-of-court settlement?B次元官网网址�
Government money accounts for six per cent of Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 funding, according to the organizationB次元官网网址檚 2020-21 annual report, although the amount in actual dollars wasnB次元官网网址檛 specified.
Hockey Canada received a total of $7.8 million in Own The Podium high-performance funding for its menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 national teams in the four years between the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.
B次元官网网址淣o one has been held accountable,B次元官网网址� Conservative MP John Nater said of the alleged assault. B次元官网网址淣o one lost the privilege of wearing the Maple Leaf on their jersey B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e heard zero tolerance mentioned today. I wish that was true.
B次元官网网址淏ut if thereB次元官网网址檚 truly a zero-tolerance situation B次元官网网址� every single player who was in London that weekend should have been mandated to participate in that review or lose the opportunity and the privilege of being associated with Hockey Canada.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擩oshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
