Hockey Canada dropped non-disclosure agreement with sexual assault complainant
CBC
Hockey Canada has dropped a non-disclosure agreement with the complainant of a high-profile alleged group sexual assault in 2018 involving eight hockey players including some members of the world junior team, CBC News has learned.
The complainant's lawyer Rob Talach says Hockey Canada approached his client on July 22 and asked if she wanted to be released from the agreement that prohibited her from publicly disclosing information about the case.
"I give them credit to say that they thought it was only fair in the circumstances of how things were unrolling publicly," Talach told CBC News in an interview.
The non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was officially withdrawn the day before Hockey Canada's executives testified before a parliamentary committee on July 27 probing the organization's handling of the alleged sexual assault case.
Hockey Canada's president Scott Smith faced questions from MPs about the NDA during the committee. NDP MP Peter Julian called on him to release complainants from them if they want because it perpetuates a "culture of silence" when "victims are silenced."
"If they wish to eliminate those, unless there is a legal reason not to that I'm aware of, I'm not sure why we wouldn't," said Scott when asked if he would withdraw the agreements. "Our priority is to support the victims."
Smith told the committee last month that Hockey Canada reached out proactively to Talach after "media reports were representing comments on behalf of players" and "suggested she should be given the right to respond to the events of the evening as well." Hockey Canada shared Talach's response privately with MPs, but did not disclose it publicly.
During the committee it was revealed that non-disclosure agreements were also used in other settlements involving sexual assault allegations, according to Hockey Canada's former VP of risk management Glen McCurdie.
On top of the 2018 case, Hockey Canada has paid $8.9 million to 21 complainants since 1989.
Hockey Canada clarified on Monday that non-disclosure agreements were not used in every single settlement.
"In some cases, the only confidentiality terms concerned the amount of the settlement, which is commonly included in almost every settlement of every claim in Canada, including sexual abuse claims…," wrote Hockey Canada in a statement to CBC News.
The Hockey Canada controversy has put a new spotlight on the issue of NDAs, which are common in settling lawsuits. There are mounting calls by some advocates to ban them in cases related to sexual assault.
P.E.I became the first province in May to limit the use of the agreements in cases to stop silencing victims of harassment and sexual misconduct. Some legal experts and legislators argue NDAs protect institutions and perpetrators and drive allegations underground allowing the culture problems to continue.
Hockey Canada is in the midst of a crisis as it deals with public outrage over its handling of sexual assault claims and use of a special fund — in part made up of registration fees — to pay for legal settlements. Sponsors have dropped support, the NHL is investigating and police have opened a new investigation into a separate 2003 group sexual assault case.
With city crews still working away to clear the snow buildup from Thursday and more flurries in the forecast for this weekend, disability advocates in Toronto say there’s not enough support during winter weather events.
A Kamloops, B.C., woman says she’s worried someone could die as a result of hitting one of the large potholes on the Coquihalla Highway between the Lower Mainland and B.C.’s southern interior.
Yukon University staff voted in favour of a strike mandate earlier this month after the two parties failed to reach an agreement at the bargaining table.
The federal government has unveiled the next steps in its national gun buyback program — and Canadians will have about two months to declare their interest in participating in order to receive compensation for turning in outlawed firearms.
Canada wants to look at joint ventures and investments with Chinese companies within the next three years to build a Canadian electric vehicle with Chinese knowledge, according to a senior Canadian official.
A former Alberta RCMP officer has been acquitted of child luring after a judge found reasonable doubt the man believed he was communicating with an underage girl during a “sting by a private citizen.”
Ontario musician Coco Love Alcorn has performed at music festivals and concert halls from coast to coast — but after spending six hours in the hospital ER on her 51st birthday, an unexpected discovery of a cancerous cyst brought her music career to a halt.
Donald Trump barely shrugged when asked about the deal Prime Minister Mark Carney forged with China this week. The U.S. president said such a deal simply made sense.
Two years after a “pause” on new approvals for wind and solar farms was lifted, 14 major renewable energy projects have yet to break ground in southeastern Alberta.
A Calgary-based private equity manager has filed a court application to push the numbered company behind the Stephenville airport into receivership.
Beyond the coast of Nova Scotia’s Sable Island, researchers have discovered a new species that was previously unknown to science.
If Allan Speight wants to make a phone call, he has to drive about eight kilometres down the road to the Welsford Irving gas station.
Quebec’s third-largest city is switching from weekly garbage and recycling collection to every two weeks in a cost-saving move it says is better for the environment. But the plan is getting mixed reaction from residents and opposition councillors.