Ottawa: Funding for Hockey Canada has been restored by the Canadian government. An announcement in this regard was made by Hockey Canada on Sunday.
Canada’s Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge made this information public ahead of the World Women’s Hockey Championship match between Canada and the United States. “When we suspended funding for Hockey Canada, it was not our intention to stop it forever. It was done so as to bring about a complete change in the organization.”
Pascale St-Onge said that three conditions were laid down and Hockey Canada has fulfilled all these conditions and now we are restoring this funding.
“We will continue to ask them to report to Sport Canada. We will ensure that they continue to move in the right direction and implement all the conditions of both the reports. We will also ensure that their action plan really moves forward,” the minister said.
It is worth mentioning that the federal government had to stop funding Hockey Canada only after some sponsors withdrew money since May. It was alleged by a woman that she was sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of the 2018 World Junior team.
The incident took place in June 2018 during the Foundation Gala in London, Ontario. Hockey Canada and the woman settled the case out of court for $3.55 million.
It was also revealed that Hockey Canada’s National Equity Fund, which has been created with money collected as fees from players across the country, was used to settle such sexual harassment cases and other cases.
Hockey Canada executives also revealed in July that in addition to the 2018 deal, they have already spent $8.9 million to settle cases related to sexual assaults since 1989.