A few years after Hockey Canada began using player registration fees to create a large financial reserve called the National Equity Fund to cover sexual assault claims and other lawsuits, the organization directed a significant portion of that money to a second multi-million dollar Dollar funds for similar purposes around .
Posted at 9:20am
It is that globe and mail which revealed its existence on Monday morning, on the eve of a new hearing by Hockey Canada before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. We are awaiting testimony from former CEO Michael Brind’Amour, who left the company before the end of his mandate last August, and his interim successor, Andrea Skinner.
This new reserve, known as the Participant Legacy Trust Fund, was created with more than $7.1 million from the National Equity Fund. According to documents obtained from the Worldthe money there is “intended for matters involving, but not limited to, sexual abuse.”
Recall that the World announced in July that Hockey Canada had used another financial reserve, the National Equity Fund, raised from player registration fees, to settle a $3.55 million lawsuit filed by a woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted by several members of the 2018 junior world champion team.
The lawsuit was settled within weeks for an undisclosed sum, without forcing Hockey Canada or the 2018 junior team players to cooperate.
The agency also acknowledged at federal hearings in July that the fund had been used to resolve nine sexual assault claims totaling $7.6 million since 1989, excluding the claim settled that year.
The Participants Legacy Trust Fund was established in 1999, according to documents filed with the Alberta Court of King’s Bench. The Fund was created to handle claims against Hockey Canada member offices arising from incidents that occurred between 1986 and 1995, before Hockey Canada began writing insurance for sexual assault and other liability claims.
The trust was scheduled to be dissolved on May 15, 2020, but in late 2018 and early 2019 Hockey Canada and its members went to court to change the terms of the trust and ensure it would remain in place through 2039.
“The trustees believe that further claims will be made after the currently defined split date and this is the primary reason for extending the term of the trust,” Hockey Canada chief financial officer Brian Cairo said in a statement released in the Alberta’s court filed January 2019.
Called to respond by the WorldJeremy Knight, spokesman for Hockey Canada, responded that the affidavit was silent.
“Mr. Cairo’s testimony was not based on knowledge of any particular claim or incident or any particular anticipated claim or incident. »
“It is important to keep in mind that Canadians’ understanding of the nature and scope of sexual abuse claims has improved significantly since 1999, when the Trust was formed. We now know that these claims often arise decades after the alleged incident, which is why asking to extend the trust beyond 2020 was prudent.”
He added that the trust is not on Hockey Canada’s balance sheet because it is not considered an asset. According to Mr Knight, the trust has not been used but remains available for its intended purpose.
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