The federal government is restoring its funding to Hockey Canada, saying the organization must fulfil several conditions in exchange for the financial support.
“While federal financing is only a fraction of Hockey Canada’s revenues, I wish to reiterate that our funding is not a blank cheque,” said Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge in a letter addressed to Hugh Fraser, Hockey Canada’s board chair.
“Hockey Canada also must tackle issues regarding safe sport, such as the toxic behaviours, the trivialization of sexual violence, and the culture of silence, which has too often made the headlines,” St-Onge wrote. “There is no reason why such situations should continue to plague hockey or any other sport.”
Hockey Canada has been embroiled in controversy since it was revealed it used registration fees paid by parents to settle a case in which a young woman alleged eight hockey players sexually assaulted her after a 2018 Hockey Canada gala.
Bruce Kidd, a professor emeritus of sports policy and sport politics at the University of Toronto, told CBC News on Sunday that the focus now is on Sport Canada’s ability to ensure Hockey Canada lives up to its promises.
“Sports Canada has been very good at establishing standards for funded sports bodies, but terrible at reviewing them for compliance, let alone enforcing compliance,” he said.
In a statement released Sunday by Hockey Canada, Fraser said the government’s announcement represented “an important milestone for Hockey Canada in our journey to earn and maintain the trust of Canadians.
“While I would like to thank Minister St-Onge and the government for their vote of confidence and for their ongoing efforts to prioritize safe sport in Canada, I also wish to stress that we still have work to do to change the culture of our sport,” Fraser said in the statement.
St-Onge speaks during question period in January. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Speaking to reporters Sunday in Brampton, Ont., ahead of the gold-medal game of this year’s women’s hockey world championship, St-Onge said the government’s suspension of funding did have an effect — but it was never intended to be permanent.
“We think Hockey Canada is on the right path, but it’s not a blank cheque, we’ll continue to monitor their progress and if we see that there’s a turn in the wrong direction, we won’t hesitate to take additional actions,” she said in French.
“There’s going to be a lot of monitoring and reporting, and we want to make sure that they keep on moving in the right direction.”
Funding is only a portion of overall revenue
CBC News reported last month that the government was considering restoring funding to the organization. Hockey Canada received $7.7 million from Sport Canada — a department of Heritage Canada — in the 2022 fiscal year but their funding has been frozen for 10 months. Sport Canada’s funding comprises about seven per cent of overall revenue, according to government statistics.
A financial statement also shows the organization ended the fiscal year in June with $98 million. Kate Bahen, managing director of Charity Intelligence Canada, told CBC News last month that “Hockey Canada does not need the money.”
St-Onge said in her letter that the funding will be aimed at delivering “high-performance programming for the women’s, men’s and para-ice hockey programs.”
Hockey Canada’s board turned over completely in October of last year, paving the way for a new board, which St-Onge praised in her letter for its diversity and expertise, representing “a first step forward.”
The funding is conditional on the organization meeting several expectations, the sport minister said. The organization will need to update the government on their work on changing the culture of hockey; implementing recommendations of two reports; and promoting the government’s safe sport program for athletes and member organizations.
“I appreciate the steps taken thus far by the organization as we work to rebuild the culture of hockey in Canada,” St-Onge wrote.
In its statement Sunday, Hockey Canada said it believes progress has been made since its new board was elected, but more needs to be done and “Hockey Canada will continue to be transparent and accountable to her and all Canadians moving forward.”
The federal government has pressured Hockey Canada to work toward a change in hockey culture, with an emphasis on inclusion and safety. CBC reporting reveals that many Canadians still feel the sports system is in crisis.
“Hockey culture will only change if it is addressed at all levels, and I believe Hockey Canada needs to drive this transformation,” St-Onge wrote.
“I think that we need to keep on talking about the culture of silence, the sexual violence, the toxic culture, because I don’t think everything has changed in a day,” the minister said from Brampton Sunday evening.
“It’s not turning the page, it’s continuing the work.”
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
