Hockey Canada must do more to ‘gain back trust’ after sex assault scandal, says PM

Hockey Canada is once again facing heavy criticism from the prime minister over its handing of sexual assault allegations against players on its world junior team.

“Their behaviour over these past years and indeed over these past months has been not worthy of an organization that embodies so many hopes and dreams for young Canadians,” Justin Trudeau said.

His comments came after Hockey Canada announced it would no longer use a fund, paid for by player registration fees, to settle sexual assault claims.

While Trudeau notes it’s a step in the right direction, he adds what people really need to see is accountability, transparency, and understanding.

“Hockey Canada needs to do an awful lot as an organization to gain back the trust of Canadians,” he said.

“I think there’s a lot more that Hockey Canada’s going to have to do before Canadian parents, like me, start trusting them.”

Hockey Canada has been under fire since the spring after quietly settling a multi-million-dollar lawsuit with a woman over allegations she was assaulted in 2018 by eight players, including several from the world junior team.

The organization did not complete an investigation, require players to answer questions, nor attempt to identify the players involved.

The national hockey organization released a carefully worded open letter July 14 with a number of promises, including a pledge to reopen an incomplete third-party investigation into the alleged assault.

The group, its lawyers, and other junior leagues will be testifying at a pair of House of Commons committee meetings next week.

Related articles: 

• Trudeau slams Hockey Canada as lawsuit slush fund revealed during investigation

• Hockey Canada had abuse claim reserve fund, court documents show

• Hockey Canada reopening investigation into alleged 2018 sexual assault

This is not the first time Trudeau has addressed the controversy. Earlier this week, while in B.C., the prime minister did not mince words in his condemnation of the organization, saying what Hockey Canada was accused of doing was unacceptable.

“I can understand why so many parents, why so many Canadians, who take such pride in our national winter sport are absolutely disgusted by what’s going on,” he said from Bowen Island.

Hockey Canada’s multi-million-dollar fund was first brought to light by The Globe and Mail, which reported that the reserve had exceeded $15 million in recent years. However, details of how the fund operated were not disclosed in Hockey Canada’s annual report.

Trudeau has said the government froze funding for the organization after the allegations surfaced in May. Many sponsors have also pulled their funding.