The latest development in the Hockey Canada controversy resulted in Michael Brind’Amour stepping down Friday night as chairman of its board of directors, effective immediately.
“My final term ends in November 2022, and I know there is no need to wait for a new era. Immediate action is essential to address the significant challenges facing our organization and our sport,” said Brind’ Love through a news from Hockey Canada. release
Hockey Canada’s board of directors and members will meet in the coming days to determine next steps and appoint an interim president.
In June, the organization’s access to public funds was frozen by the federal government over its response to an alleged sexual assault and subsequent out-of-court settlement.
A woman filed a $3.5 million lawsuit in April saying eight hockey players, including members of Canada’s world junior team, sexually assaulted her in 2018. Hockey Canada reached a settlement with a young woman the following month.
The complainant says she has always cooperated fully with a police investigation into her case, despite Hockey Canada initially saying she did not.
UPLOADING LIVE | The Sports Minister will discuss the recent meeting with the provincial Sports Ministers:
Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge discusses recent meeting with provincial sports ministers
Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge is meeting with her provincial counterparts as Hockey Canada faces criticism over its handling of sexual assault allegations against professional hockey players.
Retail giant Canadian Tire and telecommunications company Telus, among others, recently paused their sponsorships of Hockey Canada.
And last month, Hockey Canada executives testified before a House of Commons committee on Wednesday that they had paid $8.9 million in sexual abuse settlements to 21 whistleblowers since 1989 from the “National Equity Fund ,” which they said is generated by membership fees and investments.
LOOK | Hockey Canada has paid 21 sexual conduct settlements since 1989
Hockey Canada has paid 21 sexual misconduct settlements since 1989
Hockey Canada officials revealed that the organization has paid nearly $9 million in settlements since 1989 to 21 people alleging sexual misconduct.
“I have listened carefully and attentively to the feedback from Canadians about the culture of our sport and our organization, and about our actions and leadership,” Brind’Amour said in a statement. “I understand that the actions we’ve taken over the last few weeks are part of the solution.”
The announcement follows Hockey Canada’s appointment of former Canadian Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell to review the governance of the country’s hockey governing body.
The review is expected to provide interim recommendations before Hockey Canada’s annual general meeting in November.
“I am confident that the Honorable Thomas Cromwell, CC, has agreed to lead a governance review of our organization which will help us make the necessary changes. I am confident that the recommendations will guide the organization towards a desired future of change.”
Canada’s 13 regional hockey federations announced Friday that they are threatening to withhold dues payments from Hockey Canada in light of the organization’s alleged mishandling of sexual assault allegations in 2018.
Led by Hockey Quebec, the organizations sent a letter Thursday asking for a detailed action plan and an “extraordinary” meeting in late November to address their concerns.
The statement of claim, which has not been proven in court, said the hockey players brought golf clubs into the hotel room to further intimidate her, told the woman to take a shower after the sexual assault and was told she was sober while they recorded a video. consent video.
WATCH: Hockey Canada to ban players who do not cooperate with investigation:
Lawyer Danielle Robitaille says Hockey Canada will ban players who do not participate in the investigation
Robitaille appeared before a House of Commons standing committee examining allegations of sexual abuse in the sport. Robitaille said the lawyer for eight of the nine players he has not spoken to told him they were concerned about being pre-trial by Hockey Canada.
As first reported by the Globe and Mail earlier this week, the whistleblower’s attorney, Robert Talach, issued a statement saying his client made it clear to police in June 2018 that he wanted to be prosecuted criminal charges
Talach provided a number of new details about the case, including that his client spoke with a detective within days of the alleged sexual assault and was given a physical at a hospital.
His client also gave his clothing to police for examination and met with officers on two other occasions that summer, Talach said. After seven months, he was told the investigation was closed and there would be no charges.
Following an eruption of public outrage, London’s police chief recently announced he would conduct an internal review to “determine what, if any, further avenues of inquiry exist”.
Talach said his law firm created a polygraph test for the woman and she passed. The results have since been provided to police and investigators from Hockey Canada and the NHL, which launched its own investigation in May.
Talach confirmed his client will not sit for an interview with Hockey Canada or NHL investigators because he has already provided an eight-page statement, five pages of photos and 4.5 pages of text messages.