TORONTO, ON- AUGUST 2 - Olympians Marie-Philip Poulin and Greg Westlake are the first to sport the new Team Canada Jersey. Rows of Maple Leaf icons fill the jersey's shoulder caps. The jersey also sports the Canada 150 logo. The Jersey is made with ripstop fabric to resist ripping. Nike unveils a new hockey jersey design for the National Team programs leading into the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto. August 2, 2016. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Hockey Canada denies using public funds in lawsuit settlement

4 years ago
Steve Russell / Toronto Star / Getty

Hockey Canada insists it didn't draw from taxpayer money to settle a sexual assault lawsuit in May.

"We can say definitively that no government funds were used in the recent settlement of the lawsuit," the organization said in a statement Tuesday.

In April, a woman said eight CHL players sexually assaulted her in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario.

On Monday, a Canadian government subcommittee asked Hockey Canada executives to testify regarding the out-of-court settlement, the amount for which is unknown. The plaintiff asked the judge to award $3.55 million.

Hockey Canada said Tuesday it "welcomes the opportunity" to appear before the committee.

NDP MP Peter Julian told TSN's Rick Westhead on Monday that CEO Scott Smith, former CEO Tom Renney, and foundation chair David Andrews are among those requested to testify June 20. The hearing will be webcast, and any executives who decline to take part will be issued a summons to do so, the lawmaker added.

Canada's sports minister, Pascale St-Onge, has also ordered an audit of the entity's financial activity to determine whether it used government funds in the settlement.

The NHL is investigating the matter as well and pledged to punish anyone involved if necessary.

Taxpayers partially fund Hockey Canada, giving the government jurisdiction over the federation.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS
MORE STORIES