Heritage Committee demands Hockey Canada turn over report into alleged sexual assault
Posted Mar 27, 2023 10:14:00 PM.
Editor's Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
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The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage passed a motion on Monday demanding that Hockey Canada provide the final report the governing body has received from law firm Henein Hutchison's investigation into the alleged sexual assault implicating players from the 2018 World Junior team.
The motion, which was submitted by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon – Grasswood) was passed unanimously, with the added amendment that the report first be seen by the committee's law clerk, who would redact any names that should not be made public.
Henein Hutchison LLP is the firm hired by Hockey Canada to perform a third-party investigation into the alleged sexual assault. The firm’s investigation was initially launched in June 2018 but closed without reaching a conclusion in September 2020. In July of last year, Hockey Canada announced it was reopening the investigation after the alleged incident and subsequent undisclosed payout by Hockey Canada to a woman came to light.
During testimony before Parliament in July, Henein Hutchison partner and lead investigator Danielle Robitaille said the reopened investigation “is going well” and that she is “well-equipped to continue.”
In October, London Police Services submitted a filing with the Ontario Court of Justice, saying they had reasonable grounds to believe five members of the 2018 world junior hockey team sexually assaulted a woman after a fundraising event.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and the players have denied any wrongdoing and claim that any sexual contact was consensual. No charges have been laid.
