Strain seems to be mounting on Hockey Canada from each high company sponsors and political leaders, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting on Oct. 6 that if the nationwide hockey governing physique continues to withstand calls to handle issues about its dealing with of sexual assault claims and funding, the group might be changed.
“It’s inconceivable that folk at Hockey Canada proceed to dig in. It is not like there’s one thing terribly particular concerning the individuals at Hockey Canada, which means they’re the one individuals within the nation that may run a corporation like this,” Trudeau mentioned. “There must be wholesale change. They should do it. They should understand that if we have now to create a corporation—eliminate Hockey Canada and create a corporation known as ‘Canada Hockey’ as an alternative, individuals will have a look at doing that.”
Whereas some sponsors initially halted their assist when allegations surfaced this summer time, together with BDO and Esso Canada, listed here are the company sponsors who’ve just lately confirmed pulling their assist or sustaining their pause, because the controversy continues to unfold. Right here’s what these sponsors have mentioned about their selections:
TIM HORTONS
“We’ve communicated to Hockey Canada on many events that the group must take sturdy and definitive motion earlier than it may well regain the religion and belief of Canadians. We’re deeply disenchanted within the lack of progress that Hockey Canada has made up to now. We formally knowledgeable Hockey Canada this week that we have now pulled out of all males’s hockey programming for the 2022-23 season together with the lads’s world junior championships. We proceed to fund Canada’s girls’s and para hockey groups, in addition to youth hockey,” mentioned Tim Hortons media relations in a press release on Oct. 5.
CANADIAN TIRE
“After cautious consideration, Canadian Tire Company has made the choice to finish its partnership with Hockey Canada. In our view, Hockey Canada continues to withstand significant change and we will not confidently transfer ahead collectively. CTC is happy with our dedication to sport and can proceed to spend money on our beloved nationwide recreation by re-directing assist to hockey-related organizations that higher align with our values. The Respect Group, which is targeted on stopping bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination, is one in all many organizations the place funds will probably be diverted. We’re dedicated to supporting hockey and sport that’s inclusive and protected for all Canadians,” mentioned Canadian Tire Company Senior Vice President of Communications Jane Shaw in a press release on Oct. 5.
CHEVROLET CANADA
“We are able to affirm that Chevrolet Canada has stepped again from its sponsorship actions with Hockey Canada as we search extra readability on what particular steps the group has and can take following the alleged incidents of abuse. We at GM don’t have any tolerance for abuse of any type and want to see Hockey Canada return to setting a constructive instance for all Canadians in all it does,” mentioned GM Canada Government Director of Communications Jennifer Wright in a press release on Oct. 6.
SCOTIABANK
“Our sponsorship pause of Hockey Canada stays in impact. Principally, this implies a continued pause of our assist for males’s hockey all through the whole 2022/2023 season together with the upcoming World Junior Championship. In our open letter in June, we publicly known as on Hockey Canada to carry the sport to the next normal and we’re disenchanted with the dearth of progress up to now. From Hockey Canada, we anticipate a tangible dedication to transparency with Canadians, sturdy management, accountability with their stakeholders and the hockey group, and improved security each on and off the ice. Finally our place hasn’t wavered: the time for change is lengthy overdue,” mentioned Scotiabank media relations in a press release on Oct. 5.
TELUS
“We’re deeply disheartened by the dearth of motion and dedication from Hockey Canada to drive vital cultural change. TELUS won’t be sponsoring Hockey Canada’s males’s hockey applications for the 2022-23 season, together with the upcoming World Juniors match. We stay passionate followers and supporters of the game of hockey and stand dedicated to enabling systemic change to make hockey protected for all,” mentioned Telus media relations in a press release on Oct. 6.
SKIP THE DISHES
“Like many Canadians, we have now been deeply troubled by current allegations, and as such have since terminated our partnership with Hockey Canada,” mentioned a Skip The Dishes spokesperson in an e mail to CTV Information on Oct. 6.
SOBEYS
“Empire has been a proud sponsor of the Girls’s Nationwide Hockey workforce for a variety of years. When our contract with Hockey Canada expired on the finish of June, we selected to not renew our sponsorship as a result of we have been disgusted by the entire allegations and, as importantly, Hockey Canada’s unwillingness to make significant change to earn again the belief of Canadians and guarantee everybody feels welcome and protected when enjoying the game. We totally intend to proceed to assist the Girls’s Nationwide Hockey workforce and are presently exploring choices that can permit us to do this straight, with none connection to Hockey Canada,” mentioned Sobeys media relations in an e mail to CTV Information on Oct. 6.