Conservatives call for Hockey Canada sex assault scandal investigation
Posted June 8, 2022 12:56 pm.
The federal Heritage Committee could launch an investigation into the sex assault scandal at Hockey Canada, as early as Wednesday.
The Conservatives are pushing for a meeting of the committee to take place Wednesday and address a motion to start an investigation.
MP Kevin Waugh says he wants to know if there was a cover up and if federal funds were used by Hockey Canada in a settlement with the alleged victim.
“We need these people to testify. I know of two people already that have left Hockey Canada’s office over this. We need them to come to the committee immediately and talk about this serious rape allegation that took place in 2018,” he said.
Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League settled a $3.55-million lawsuit with a woman who accused eight players, including members of the 2017-18 under-20 men’s team, of sexual assault after a foundation gala in June of 2018.
Related article: Hockey Canada settles sexual assault lawsuit involving former World Junior players
“It’s a sexual abuse and it was covered up, I believe, and we need to get to the bottom of it right away. Why you say? Because we have the World Junior Championship rescheduled for August. So it’s time now to get to the allegations, hear everyone, and hear the report that they did on this,” he said.
Hockey Canada said in a previous statement to Sportsnet that it immediately contacted local authorities after learning about the alleged assaults. It went on to say it retained Henein Hutchison LLP to “undertake a thorough independent internal investigation and make recommendations on areas for improvement which we have been implementing and will continue to pursue.”
Canada’s hockey governing body has also previously said the person making the allegations chose not to speak with Hockey Canada’s independent investigator, adding they’ve also chosen not to identify the players involved.
