NDP MP Peter Julian is asking the federal authorities to conduct “an intensive audit” of Hockey Canada’s funds courting again to 2016.
The request, made in a letter to Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge on Tuesday, references hundreds of {dollars} in bills attributed to the game’s nationwide governing physique, together with high-end dinners, luxurious lodge suites and championship rings for board members.
A member of Home of Commons’ heritage committee, which has been analyzing the federation since an explosive sexual assault allegation and subsequent hushed fee have been revealed within the spring, Julian wrote that he additionally raised the problem with embattled Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith in one other letter.
Julian instructed The Canadian Press final month he obtained info concerning the perks — together with meals in extra of $5,000 — and swanky lodging from an unnamed former board member.
In a press release offered to CP on the time, Hockey Canada mentioned board bills are “frequently reviewed to make sure they’re acceptable.”
St-Onge oversees Sport Canada and Hockey Canada, and in accordance with Julian “it’s your accountability to ensure that Hockey Canada makes use of authorities funds and hockey dad and mom’ registration charges in an accountable and clear method.”
The B.C. parliamentarian added in his letter the newest revelations “present that Hockey Canada has not been clear and accountable to the general public and notably to hockey dad and mom.”
Hockey Canada has been underneath intense scrutiny since TSN first reported an undisclosed settlement paid to a girl who alleges she was sexually assaulted by eight gamers, together with members of the 2018 world junior group, at a gala occasion in London, Ont.
The complainant had been looking for $3.55 million {dollars} in damages. Not one of the allegations have been examined in court docket.
St-Onge ordered a forensic audit of Hockey Canada to make sure no public funds have been used as a part of the settlement.
Hockey Canada officers instructed the heritage committee in July it has used the group’s Nationwide Fairness Fund, which attracts on minor hockey membership charges, to pay out $7.6 million in uninsured claims throughout 9 settlements associated to sexual assault or abuse since 1989.
That determine didn’t embody the alleged London incident.
Hockey Canada has additionally revealed there’s an investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving members of the nation’s 2003 world junior group.
The federation’s present board mentioned final month it helps Smith, who additionally serves as president, and his govt group regardless of loud requires change on the prime.
That prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to state that Hockey Canada’s management has misplaced the arrogance of the federal authorities and the nation at giant.
The federation’s response to the scandal has included the discharge of an motion plan and a third-party overview of its governance, however the one management change so far was the resignation of board chair Michael Brind’Amour, whose time period was set to finish in November.
He stepped down Aug. 6 and was changed by Andrea Skinner on an interim foundation three days later. Skinner then launched the Aug. 29 assertion backing Smith.
Conservative MP Karen Vecchio, chair of the Standing Committee on the Standing of Ladies, instructed The Canadian Press final week she believes all the pieces Hockey Canada is doing in the intervening time is said to optics.
“It’s truly disingenuous,” she mentioned. “I imagine that.”
“Nobody’s quitting, that’s nice,” Vecchio added sarcastically. “You guys have completed such an ideal job to this point.
“It’s like going again to the identical restaurant that continues to offer you unhealthy meals.”
-With recordsdata from Lori Ewing
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