Hockey Canada’s National Equity Fund paid $7.6 million since 1989 for nine sexual assault settlements, according to Hockey Canada’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Brian Cairo..“Out of the National Equity Fund, nine settlement payments have been made totalling $7.6 million,” said Cairo to the heritage committee meeting on Wednesday..Former Canadian junior hockey coach, Graham James, was $6.8 million of the total..James pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault in 1997..Uninsured settled claims were another $1.3 million of payouts, of which $1 million were paid out for four incidents from a single perpetrator..The fund paid for third-party investigator Henein Hutchison LLP to investigate the 2018 alleged group sexual assault, which cost $287,000..Children’s registration fees primarily funded the National Equity Fund..On Tuesday, July 19, Hockey Canada said it would no longer use the fund to pay for sexual assault claims after reports came out it used the membership fees fund to pay for the uninsured liabilities. .After the first committee meeting on June 20, Hockey Canada had its federal funding frozen and lost many corporate sponsorships..After two high-profile alleged group sexual assault claims became public, Hockey Canada was ordered to appear to the heritage committee..TSN reported the 2018 world junior team was accused of a group sexual assault in London and Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit earlier this year..READ MORE Hockey Canada didn’t require players to take part in 2018 sexual assault investigation .On Friday, Hockey Canada and the Halifax police confirmed another “alleged group sexual assault” investigation was opened involving the 2003 world junior hockey championship team..READ MORE 2003 Canadian world junior hockey team accused of group sex attack .On Tuesday, Sport Canada confirmed it knew about the 2018 assault but did not inform the sport minister’s office and did not follow up with Hockey Canada..The committee meeting continues.
