A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was dropped between Hockey Canada and the alleged group sexual assault victim from a 2018 incident involving eight members of the world junior hockey team..The alleged victim’s lawyer, Rob Talach, said Hockey Canada asked her on July 22 if she wanted the NDA dropped so she could speak publicly about her case..“I give them credit to say that they thought it was only fair in the circumstances of how things were unrolling publicly,” Talach told CBC News..On July 26, the day before Hockey Canada testified before the Heritage committee about its handling of the alleged sexual assault, the NDA was withdrawn..Scott Smith, Hockey Canada’s president, answered MPs questions about the NDA at that committee meeting..NDP MP Peter Julian asked Smith to drop all NDAs in sexual assault cases as it “perpetuates a culture of silence” when “victims are silenced.”.Smith responded that Hockey Canada would drop the NDAs..“If they wish to eliminate those, unless there is a legal reason not to that I’m aware of, I’m not sure why we wouldn’t… Our priority is to support the victims,” said Smith. .Hockey Canada contacted Talach after “media reports were representing comments on behalf of players” and “suggested she should be given the right to respond to the events of the evening as well.”.Hockey Canada gave its communications with Talach to the MPs, but not with the public..Glen McCurdie, former risk management vice-president, said Hockey Canada used NDAs in other alleged sexual assault allegations besides the 2018 case, Hockey Canada paid 21 settlements totalling $8.9 million since 1989..However, NDAs were not used in all the Hockey Canada settlements..“In some cases, the only confidentiality terms concerned the amount of the settlement, which is commonly included in almost every settlement of every claim in Canada, including sexual abuse claims,” said Hockey Canada in a statement. .The controversy with Hockey Canada started when Talach’s client filed a $3.5 million lawsuit in April for an alleged sexual assault involving eight world junior team hockey players..It is alleged the players sexually assaulted, humiliated, and degraded her at a London hotel..In the lawsuit, it alleges the players used golf clubs to intimidate her, made her shower after the sexual assault, and recorded a “consent” video saying she was sober and a willing participant.
