Hockey Canada Refutes Claims An Email From 2019 Confirms Organization’s Current Stance

Summary

• Hockey Canada under fire for an email sent in 2019
• The email showcases Hockey Canada’s stance towards safe sports cases
• Hockey Canada says current policies do not reflect stance from 2019 email

Hockey Canada has said that the contents of a 2019 email sent to Canada’s Sports Ministry were not reflective of its approach to dealing with sexual abuse claims and other safe sports cases. The email in question was sent to ex-senior policy advisor Michael Paramathasan on October 29, 2019.

Erstwhile Sports Minister Denies Receiving Mail

Meanwhile, Kirsty Duncan, the sports minister between 2015-2019, denied receiving any such mail. According to Hockey Canada’s statement on September 13, 2022, the mail was a part of a consultation with the Office of the Minister of Science and Sport. It did not indicate anything about the body’s current approach to addressing the management of safe-sport cases. The federation said that it supported the inclusion of third-party investigations and the government’s safe sport helpline.

In the three-page feedback email addressed to Paramathasan, Hockey Canada bragged about its unrivaled way of managing safe-sport cases, which was second to none. Despite being full of high praises for its complaint management system, the body questioned the need for a third-party complaint process and a toll-free helpline to report the cases.

Hockey Canada said that it also revealed some information about its insurance policies about the claims of sexual misconduct during the consultation process. The body also stopped using the National Equity Fund for settling sexual abuse claims and uninsured liabilities. Glen McCurdie, Hockey Canada’s then vice president of insurance and risk management, signed the mail.

In its statement, Hockey Canada recognized the need to encourage a safer environment, on and off the sporting field. It was the reason behind executing crucial changes in how it received and investigated complaints related to maltreatment and abuse. Besides the third-party complaint process, Hockey Canada also became a signing member of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC).

Hockey Canada in Hot Water Due to SA Claims

Hockey Canada has been in hot water since the news about the 2018 alleged gang rape surfaced in May. The body’s federal funding has been frozen due to its suspicious way of handling the cases. Till now, none of the claims have been proven.

Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge has got the OSIC to examine sexual abuse claims. National sports federations would have to become signing members to work with the OSIC till April 2023. So far, only the volleyball and weightlifting federations have signed the agreement.