Hockey Canada president Scott Smith may have gotten a vote of confidence from the federation’s board of directors earlier this week, but he didn’t get that from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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The politician believes that Hockey Canada has simply lost the trust of the people of the country due to its handling surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct.
“As a politician, but especially as a parent, I know how important the organizations that are there to provide activities, learning, team and community spirit and inspiration to so many our young people across the country must have the confidence of Canadians and parents about the culture they are sharing with our young people, said Mr. Trudeau in Ottawa. It is very clear that for several months, the government and Canadians no longer have confidence in the management of Hockey Canada.
“The longer it takes them to understand this fact which seems pretty obvious to me, the worse it will continue to go for them and the more pointed questions there will be about why they don’t understand how much real change it takes. »
Hockey Canada has been in hot water since an alleged gang rape committed by Junior Team Canada players in 2018 surfaced in the media. The federation then used an emergency fund to buy the silence of the victim.
Since then, another story of sexual misconduct, this time in 2003, has come to light. Chairman of the board, Michael Brind’Amour, has since resigned.