Federal officials are throwing their support behind Quebec’s provincial hockey federation for its decision to cut ties with Hockey Canada in the wake of new allegations against the sporting body.
In a resolution voted on Tuesday night and first obtained by La Presse, Hockey Québec stated that it no longer has “confidence in the ability of Hockey Canada to act effectively to change the culture of hockey with the structure in place.”
It said it will no longer transfer funds to the national organization.
The vote came hours after Federal Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge called on regional federations under Hockey Canada to put pressure on the organization to change.
On Wednesday, St-Onge told reporters in Ottawa that Hockey Québec’s decision shows that the move to reform Hockey Canada is underway.
“It also sends the message to the leaders at the organization that are holding onto their jobs that Hockey Canada doesn’t belong to them, it also belongs to their members, and they want change. They want a change of culture and they want a fight against sexual violence,” she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he understands Hockey Québec’s decision “fully,” saying it’s no surprise that provincial organizations are questioning whether or not they want to continue supporting an organization “that doesn’t understand how serious a situation it has contributed to causing.”
“I can’t understand how Hockey Canada refuses to accept the reality that they no longer have the trust of parents and Canadians,” he told reporters Wednesday.
“If they are truly concerned about young people and about hockey in Canada, they should understand that it takes an absolute transformation.”
The Globe and Mail reported Monday that Hockey Canada put player registration fees toward a second fund “for matters including but not limited to sexual abuse,” according to documents obtained by the newspaper.
The news follows revelations in July that another fund, known as the National Equity Fund, was used to settle sexual misconduct claims.
Criticism of national body’s action plan
The provincial federation criticized Hockey Canada’s action plan to deal with the numerous sex scandals that have surfaced recently — namely an allegation of a gang rape that allegedly took place in 2018 involving junior hockey players.
Hockey Québec said it also takes issue with the way the action plan was drafted, saying it was conceived internally and with the help of a private crisis management firm.
It said it found it “troubling” no experts or organizations specializing in sexual abuse, intimidation, discrimination or education were ever consulted.
The provincial federation said it will be suspending all transfers of registration fees ($3 per player) usually paid to the national organization.
For the time being, only the amounts used to cover insurance costs will continue to be paid, but Hockey Québec said it is looking for solutions to insure its members outside of the national body’s insurance framework.
Since the summer, Hockey Canada has seen several major sponsors withdraw funding and pause their sponsorships in response to the organization’s handling of the 2018 case.
Hockey Québec said it will release an official statement later today about its decision.
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