Provincial federations want to hold a Hockey Canada meeting, report before paying membership fees

Canada’s 13 provinces Hockey League wanted an answer and said they would withhold the membership fee for Canadian Hockey when the organization was involved in a recent national scandal sexual assault allegations against the player.

The letter, written in French and led by Hockey Québec, was released on Thursday. President Claude Fortin wrote that the group is requesting an “extraordinary meeting” with Hockey Canada “as soon as possible.”

The meeting was to get more information on the handling of the allegations from 2018 and the role the board was aware of and the actions taken.

The federations are “appalled and still concerned” by the allegations as well as the management and decisions of the national body.

“What we are learning on the sidelines of this situation runs counter to the values ​​our sport must convey to its participants and those who oversee them,” the letter read.

The letter was released on the same day that it was announced that the former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Thomas Cromwell will lead an independent review of Canadian Hockeygovernance in the context of calls for a change in management’s leadership.

In May, news broke that members of the 2018 world youth team were accused of sexually assaulting the group following the Canada Hockey gala event in London, Ont. and Hockey Canada have reached an agreement with the complainant.

The woman filed a complaint seeking more than $3.5 million in compensation from the organization, the Canadian Hockey Federation and unnamed players. Details of the settlement have not been made public and no charges have been proven in court.

As Canadian Hockey gets embroiled in a national scandal, the provinces also want more details about the organization that previously announced “Action plan.” This includes the process behind its creation and the content of the plan itself.

Unions will also only pay their membership dues this December if Hockey Canada provides them with a written report on the Action Plan and on the implementation of the Action Plan, the letter stated.

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The alleged victim denied Hockey Canada’s initial claim that she was not cooperating with the police

They said they wanted a progress report on the initiative before the second payment deadline in 2023 and listed it as an “essential condition” for the delivery of their fees. The updates will then be shared with members of the provincial federation.

“Through these actions, we want to continue to offer our members and everyone who wants to participate in our sport a healthy, positive, safe, inclusive and accessible environment. access, as well as programs focused on learning and play,” the letter reads.

“We also believe that communication, transparency, and accountability are needed to maintain our members’ trust in Hockey Quebec, to restore the trust of Canadian Hockey families and for change. enduring in hockey culture.”

Fortin ended with a letter saying that they all have a role to play in the well-being of hockey players and those who work in the sport.

“Our sport must do more but above all do better,” the letter read. “Hockey is not a game.”

– with files from Global News ‘Amanda Connolly and the Canadian Press