Province to continue financial support for Calgary Stampede despite sex abuse settlement

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province will continue to provide financial support for the Calgary Stampede despite calls from a federal MP to pull funding from Ottawa in the wake of a sex-abuse settlement.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province will continue to provide financial support for the Calgary Stampede despite calls from a federal MP to pull funding from Ottawa in the wake of a sex-abuse settlement.

A partial settlement was reached this week in the class-action lawsuit alleging the organization allowed a performance school staffer with the Young Canadians to sexually abuse boys.

Smith noted at a press conference on Friday that the Stampede is the ‘premiere festival of Alberta’ and will continue to receive public funding.

At the same time however, she has asked the organization for evidence that it is taking steps to address the safety of children.

“It is our responsibility to make sure that kids are safe and that these protocols exist. They exist in other organizations to make sure that the children are protected,” Smith said.