Hockey Canada says it will no longer use reserve fund to settle sexual assault claims

Hockey Canada says it will no longer use a fund maintained by membership fees collected across the country to settle sexual assault claims.

The so-called “National Equity Fund” came to light this week as the federation continues to deal with the fallout from an alleged sexual assault at an event four years in London, Ont., involving eight unnamed players and the subsequent out-of-court settlement.

News of the secretive fund drew the ire of Canadians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Hockey Canada says effective immediately the fund “will be exclusively dedicated towards safety, wellness and equity initiatives, as well as insurance across our organization.”

Details of the fund is included in a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Glen McCurdie, who was then Hockey Canada’s vice-president of insurance and risk management, as part of a lawsuit launched by an injured player in Ontario.

McCurdie’s affidavit said “Hockey Canada maintains a reserve in a segregated account to pay for any such uninsured liabilities as they arise.” It goes on to say that “uninsured liabilities include potential claims for historical sexual abuse.”