By Rhythm Sachdeva, CTVNews.ca Web Reporter
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Toronto, Ontario (CTV Network) — The director and interim chair of the board of Hockey Canada, Andrea Skinner, has resigned amid expanding backlash over the group’s dealing with of alleged sexual attacks, in line with a unlock Saturday by way of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors.
“I joined the Hockey Canada Board of Directors in November 2020 as a volunteer. It was my strong commitment to making the game more safe, accessible, inclusive and welcoming,” Skinner stated in a observation.
“Upon reflection, it is clear to me from recent events that it no longer makes sense for me to continue to volunteer my time as Interim Chair or as a Director of the organization.”
Skinner resigns days after a parliamentary committee listening to on Tuesday the place she defended Hockey Canada’s dealing with of allegations of sexual attack. She had simplest served as interim chair for roughly two months after former board chair Michael Brind’Amour stepped down Aug. 6.
Her resignation marks the group’s 2nd main departure in contemporary months.
“I think it’s interesting to note that Andrea Skinner’s position was a volunteer one, and it does raise some interesting questions,” TSN’s Rick Westhead informed CTV National News on Saturday.
Westhead notes Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith has been under intense pressure to renounce as smartly.
“His position is a paid one,” Westhead stated. “The question now with Andrea Skinner leaving is who might negotiate a severance package for Scott Smith and his leadership team?”
Hockey Canada has been under the nationwide microscope since May when it used to be published it had settled a lawsuit with a lady who alleged she used to be sexually assaulted by way of 8 avid gamers from the 2018 nationwide junior males’s hockey workforce all through a June gala tournament in London, Ont., that yr.
Among different revelations that adopted used to be Hockey Canada’s admission it drew on minor hockey club charges to pay for uninsured liabilities, together with sexual abuse claims.
Also, Halifax police had been requested to research an alleged sexual attack by way of individuals of the 2003 nationwide junior males’s workforce.
The federal govt has frozen Hockey Canada’s investment, and the group has been bleeding sponsorships, with manufacturers similar to Nike, Canadian Tire, Scotiabank and Tim Hortons postponing their strengthen.
With information from The Canadian Press
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