The federal government’s decision to suspend funding to Hockey Canada due to issues unrelated to the National Women’s Team may still have repercussions.
The Canadian women’s and para hockey teams rely heavily on federal funds to operate.
The majority of training costs for men’s teams are paid for by professional or junior clubs that loan players to Hockey Canada for international tournaments.
For example, when federal sports minister Pascale St-Onge froze funding for Hockey Canada over its handling of an alleged sexual assault by members of the men’s team that took part in the World Junior 2018, Canadian players worried about the financial fallout for their team.
“It’s a concern, for sure,” forward Blayre Turnbull said. We think of ourselves as professional athletes without a professional paycheck.
“A lot of our money comes from the government and other organizations like that. Our program would be greatly affected if the freezing of funds continued. »
Of the 142 senior and development players currently attending a camp in Calgary, 19 won Olympic gold in Beijing in February.
The first Women’s World Championship to take place in the same calendar year as the Olympics will get under way on August 25 in Denmark.
The Canadians will try to defend their title won a year ago in Calgary where they beat the United States in overtime in the final.
Their preparation for Denmark is unaffected, but the financial future of the women’s program looks murky for the players under the current sanctions.
“It’s a valid concern, especially in the long term,” Gina Kingsbury, director of hockey operations for women’s teams at Hockey Canada, told The Canadian Press. We are entering a zone that we do not fully understand. I try to focus on what I can control.
“In the short term, the message from Hockey Canada was that we will not be affected here this season. It is normal to think in the long term, what are these impacts? If it affects Hockey Canada in the long term, it affects our women’s program. »
St-Onge suspended funding to Hockey Canada after TSN reporter Rick Westhead revealed that the organization had reached a financial settlement with a woman who alleged members of the 2018 World Junior Championship men’s team sexually assaulted following a Hockey Canada gala.
Hockey Canada later revealed that members of the 2003 World Juniors men’s team were being investigated for alleged sexual assault in Nova Scotia. The allegations have not been proven in court.
But federal money is withheld until Hockey Canada meets St-Onge’s terms. They include a financial audit of the organization, the production of recommendations from an investigation report by a third-party law firm, the development of an action plan to change the culture and adherence to the Office of the Integrity Commissioner.
Hockey Canada has taken steps to meet those conditions, but St-Onge told MPs last week that the money would not be paid “until we are satisfied that the conditions are met.”
“I think it’s really important that these issues be addressed, that we get to the bottom of it,” forward Brianne Jenner said. That is the hope and I think all Canadians want it. »
The women’s team received $6 million in Own the Podium (ANP) funding in the four years leading up to the Beijing Games, where Canada won gold at the expense of the United States, while that the men’s teams received $1.8 million during the same quadrennial.
ANP paid $4 million in the pre-Beijing period to the men’s para hockey team that won silver.
The women hope they will not pay a disproportionate price for the actions of others under Hockey Canada’s guardianship.
“Actions have consequences and people are held accountable for their actions, but what I do know is that the women’s hockey culture that we have created, and it has taken a lot of work, is a safe environment,” said defender Jocelyne Larocque. I think Canadians who follow us know that. »
As full-time high performance athletes, female and para hockey athletes receive monthly checks from Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) of approximately $1800 per month.
Sport Canada has confirmed that checks will continue.
“There has been no suspension of AAP funding for carded athletes in the Women’s National Team or Paralympic program,” a spokeswoman told The Canadian Press in an email.
Although Imperial Oil, Scotiabank and TELUS have withdrawn their sponsorship of the World Junior Men’s Hockey Championship, these companies have indicated that they will continue to financially support youth programs and women’s events.
“I hope the public understands that women’s hockey is healthy, that the culture we’re talking about doesn’t quite apply on our side,” Kingsbury added.
“We’re proud of the culture and environment we’re building, we’re proud of the program we have, we’re proud of the people who are part of this program, top to bottom. »