The Canadian government has restored funding to Hockey Canada.
Hockey Canada made the announcement on Sunday, adding that Canadian Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge made it official before the final between Canada and the United States at the World Women’s Hockey Championship.
“When we suspended funding for Hockey Canada, it wasn’t going to be forever,” St-Onge told members of the media at the CAA Centre. The goal was to make the necessary changes happen within the organization. I gave them three conditions and they were met. So we’re restoring the funding, but it’s not a blank cheque. »
Hockey Canada had seen its funding cut by the federal government, while several sponsors had stopped giving money since last May, when it was announced that a woman had allegedly been sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of the 2018 World Junior Team, following a founding gala in London, Ontario, in February 2018.
Hockey Canada and the woman have quietly settled a $3.55 million lawsuit out of court.
Hockey Canada then announced that members of the 2003 World Junior Team were also being investigated for a gang sexual assault.
In order to restore funding, Hockey Canada had to meet three conditions outlined by St-Onge, including becoming a full signatory to Sport Sans Abuse and the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner.
Hockey Canada also had to review and implement the recommendations of an independent governance review, led by retired judge Thomas Cromwell, as well as commit to more frequent reporting to Ottawa.
“We will ask them to constantly report the situation with Sport Canada,” said St-Onge. We want to make sure that Hockey Canada continues to move in the right direction, while implementing all the recommendations of the two reports produced in the last two months. We want to make sure their action plan moves forward. »