Curling Canada under fire over limiting eligibility for pregnancy exemptions
CBC
Residency rules. Pregnancy exemptions. Confusion, questions and ire.
A Curling Canada news release intended to confirm the draw for the national women's championship instead sparked a debate about inclusivity, equality and options for teams with players who are pregnant.
Prominent curlers from across the country took the national sports organization to task this week for the wording and creation of an exemption that only allowed teams ranked in the top five to apply.
When a fourth-ranked team was able to bring in an out-of-province free agent as a replacement for a player close to her due date, queries about the rules — along with some sharp criticism — started rolling in.
"I'm a little bit disheartened to see that the rule seems to be really favouring only the elite in Canada," said sixth-ranked Casey Scheidegger, one of three wild-card entries at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Scheidegger and her sister Jessie Haughian are both pregnant and due in June.
However, since the Alberta-based team is outside the top five, it was ineligible to apply for the same exemption that was granted to the team skipped by fourth-ranked Kaitlyn Lawes, per federation rules.
"Us being No. 6 as well and not knowing anything about it and finding out yesterday was, I guess, interesting to see that announcement," Scheidegger told The Canadian Press on Wednesday. "Obviously I think the most glaring thing on the rule is that it just seems to be unequal."
Her sister also chimed in via Twitter.
The team, which already has an import player in Manitoba's Kate Hogan, made plans to add Kristie Moore as an alternate. Moore, a 2010 Olympian based in Grande Prairie, Alta., has played with the team on several occasions in recent seasons.
With Haughian experiencing occasional discomfort and pain, Scheidegger said she was pleased Moore was available and expects her to see plenty of playing time.
"Would we have applied for the exemption? Potentially," Scheidegger said from Lethbridge, Alta. "I guess for us it wasn't made an option. So we abided by the residency rules because that's what we thought was available to us."
Under those residency rules, at least three of four players must live or have birthright status in their respective province or territory. Only one free agent is allowed per team unless an exemption is granted.
Lawes, vice Selena Njegovan and lead Kristin MacCuish are Winnipeg-based while Calgary resident Jocelyn Peterman is the import. Curling Canada granted Njegovan a pregnancy leave and allowed Edmonton-based free agent Laura Walker to replace her.