Hockey Canada signs up with sport integrity commissioner amid abuse scandals
Global News
Hockey Canada said it is a "full signatory" to Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner and all complaints of abuse will go directly to the office.
Hockey Canada has become the latest national sporting body to sign with the new sports integrity commissioner, whose responsibility is to probe alleged abuse and mistreatment in sport.
The move comes as the organization faces a series of scandals stemming from allegations of sexual assault and misconduct by members of at least two Canadian World Juniors teams.
In a statement Thursday, Hockey Canada said it was now a “full signatory” to Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) and all complaints of abuse, discrimination and harassment at the national level will go directly to the office. All other alleged incidents involving Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs will be handled by an independent third party, the national body said.
“Today’s announcement is an important step in working towards ending a culture of silence that exists in corners of our game,” said Natasha Johnston, vice-president of sport safety with Hockey Canada, in the statement.
“We are pleased to be part of this critical addition to the Canadian sport system and hope a strong message is being sent to Canadians that inappropriate behaviour in and around hockey will not be tolerated at any level.”
Hockey Canada is the sixth signatory of the OSIC, which was launched in June.
Other signatories include weightlifting and volleyball, as well as Canada Games Council, Canadian Sport for Life and Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic.
More to come…