‘Hard for anyone’ to trust Hockey Canada amid handling of sex assault claims: Trudeau
Global News
The prime minister was reacting to revelations from Monday that Hockey Canada has maintained a fund to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it’s “hard for anyone” in the country to have trust in Hockey Canada as the organization faces scrutiny for its handling of alleged sexual assault cases and the overall culture within the sport.
Speaking on Bowen Island, B.C., on Tuesday, Trudeau was reacting to revelations from the day before that Hockey Canada has maintained a fund to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims.
“I think it’s hard for anyone in Canada to have faith or trust in anyone at Hockey Canada,” the prime minister said, calling news of the reserve fund “unacceptable.”
“A few years ago, I had my son in hockey. And when I think about the culture that is apparently permeating the highest orders of that organization, I can understand why so many Canadians who take such pride in our national winter sport are absolutely disgusted by what’s going on.”
The sport’s national body has been under intense scrutiny since news of an alleged sexual assault of a woman following a 2018 gala in London, Ont., involving eight unidentified players — including members of that year’s world junior team — and subsequent settlement broke in May.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Hockey Canada last week said it was reopening an independent investigation into the alleged incident, after the organization’s president and COO Scott Smith and outgoing CEO Tom Renney told the parliamentary committee on Canadian heritage last month that players from the team were encouraged — but not required — to cooperate with investigators.
Smith testified “12 or 13” of the 19 players at the gala were interviewed before the original and incomplete investigation concluded in September 2020. That came after an earlier statement from Renney that only four to six players cooperated.
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