A majority of Canadians believe sexual harassment and assault is a big problem in junior hockey, according to a new poll.
The Angus Reid Institute study finds that 58% of Canadians believe sexual misconduct is a major problem for Canada’s national winter sport, while 17% believe it is this is a minor issue. The survey also reveals that 56% of respondents who have been closely associated with youth hockey believe it is a significant problem.
According to Angus Reid, women also tend to stress the seriousness of the problem more than men in their age range. It is also men under 35 who are less likely to think there is a problem, according to the study.
The polling institute released the results of this exercise on Wednesday, the day of the quarter-final matches of the World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton.
The tournament takes place in a particular context this year, as Hockey Canada must answer for its handling of allegations of sexual assault made against members of its teams at the 2003 and 2018 World Juniors.
Among other survey results, 63% of respondents believe a change in the direction of Hockey Canada is needed, and 27% are confident that the organization’s recently announced plan to combat “toxic behavior in hockey” will improve how women will be treated.
The study results come from an online survey conducted Aug. 8-10 among a random sample of 2,279 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. Its margin of error is plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
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