WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE
Italy Adopts New LGBT Strategy Just Before Right-Wing Takeover

By Reuters
Oct. 7, 2022

Elena Bonetti arrives at Quirinale Presidential Palace, before being sworn in as Italy's equal opportunities and families minister, in Rome, Italy September 5, 2019.
REUTERS/Ciro de Luca/File





Italy's outgoing government has set a three-year strategy to fight anti-LGBTQ discrimination amid fears of a roll-back of rights under the upcoming right-wing rule.

Members of the LGBTQ community have feared a crackdown on their rights under a far-right leader

The outgoing Italian government has adopted a new strategy to fight discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ), Equal Opportunities Minister Elena Bonetti said in remarks published Friday.

The move comes before a new government, led by far-right leader Giorgia Meloni's post-fascist Brothers of Italy party, takes over power.

Although Meloni had ruled out rolling back LGBTQ rights, she previously spoke out against what she called LGBTQ "lobbies," and her party repeatedly condemned same-sex parenting and gender fluidness.

Those remarks have sparked fears that the LGBTQ community could face threats and hatred, even if their legal rights remained in place.
What is Italy's new LGBTQ plan?

Speaking with the Reuters news agency, Bonetti said the strategy was not "controversial."

"We weren't very ideological, we were very concrete," she said.

The new plan is also in line with the "European strategy" on LGBTQ rights and anti-discrimination laws, she told broadcaster Rai 3.

The 2022-2025 plan proposes providing awareness courses for teachers, doctors, police and corrections officers on LGBTQ rights.

The 30-page document recommends adding specific anti-LGBTQ discrimination clauses in national labor agreements.

"The strategy makes rights concrete with a series of actions against violence and marginalization," Bonetti told the Italian daily la Republica in an interview published Thursday, adding that she hoped the new government would implement it.
How did Brothers of Italy react?

The party's spokesperson for equal opportunities, Isabella Rauti, condemned the move, saying it was wrong for an outgoing, caretaker government to commit its successor to a multi-year plan.

Brothers of Italy politician Eugenia Roccella told la Republica the move is "not only incorrect, but also senseless."

"The government has had two years to do so now... it's just a publicity stunt," she added.

Separately on Friday, Meloni slammed French European Affairs Minister Laurence Boone for commenting that Paris would "pay close attention to the respect for values and the rule of law" under the new government in Rome.

Boone's comments seemed to be "an unacceptable threat of interference against a sovereign member state of the European Union," Meloni said.

"I trust that the French government will immediately deny the words," she added.

fb/sms (Reuters, AFP)

ULTIMATE MANSPLAINING
GOP Senate Nominee: Abortion Decisions 'Belong' to GOP ‘Gentlemen’ State Reps

Jennifer Bendery - Yesterday 

New Hampshire GOP Senate nominee Don Bolduc told supporters this week that he thinks the future of abortion rights “belongs” to Republican “gentlemen” state lawmakers, who he claims know best how to give women a voice on their reproductive rights.

During a Wednesday night town hall in Auburn, New Hampshire, Bolduc, a retired Army brigadier general, weighed in on whether he thinks abortion rights should be decided at the state level or the federal level.

“It belongs to the state. It belongs to these gentlemen right here, who are state legislators representing you,” Bolduc said, motioning to at least two Republican state representatives in the room, Jason Osborne and Jess Edwards.

Edwards, for one, voted against sidelining a bill in March that would have banned abortion upon the detection of a so-called fetal “heartbeat,” a misleading reference to cardiac activity in an embryo. That means the bill would have banned abortion after about five weeks, a point at which many people don’t even know that they are pregnant.

Here’s a shot of Bolduc’s campaign event, with Edwards seated nearby (HuffPost circled him with a yellow line). Bolduc tweeted out this image after the event.



New Hampshire Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc talks about abortion rights at a campaign event. (Photo: Don Bolduc's Twitter account)© Provided by HuffPost

Bolduc went on to say that “as a man,” he thinks that women “get the best voice” on their reproductive rights when state legislators decide how to regulate them.

“That is the best way, I think, as a man, that women get the best voice: at the state level, not at the federal level,” he said.

Bolduc said his opponent, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan, simply doesn’t understand that the best way to regulate women’s access to abortion care is on a state-by-state basis.

“She needs to get on board with the Supreme Court decision” to end Roe v. Wade, he said.

Here’s an audio clip of Bolduc’s remarks on abortion rights.

Bolduc campaign spokesperson Kate Constantini did not respond to a request for comment on why Bolduc thinks abortion rights are best decided by Republican “gentlemen” state legislators, or why he thinks they know best how to give women “a voice” on abortion matters.

Instead, Constantini accused Hassan of lying about Bolduc’s record.

“Senator Hassan shamelessly continues to lie about General Bolduc’s position, trying to scare voters and distract from her abysmal record,” she said. “The general opposes a federal ban on abortion and believes this decision should be in the hands of the states. Senator Hassan needs to end the lies and face the fact that she can no longer hide behind her deceit.”

Sydney Petersen, a spokesperson for Hassan’s campaign, said it’s clear that Bolduc thinks politicians know better than women what’s good for them.

“Every chance he gets, Bolduc reinforces that he believes politicians ― and more specifically Republican men ― should control a woman’s most personal decision about her future,” said Petersen. “His most recent comment further underscores that if elected, he would dismiss half the population and it’s clear that he would be a yes vote for a nationwide abortion ban.”

Hassan has been leading in the polls against Bolduc for months. She has widened her lead to nearly 8 points in the weeks since Bolduc became the official GOP nominee.

A recent Axios story suggested that internally, though, her campaign manager is sounding the alarms that polling may be inaccurate and Hassan may be in more trouble than it looks.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

LACONIA, NH - SEPTEMBER 10: Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc greets supporters at a town hall event on September 10, 2022 in Laconia, New Hampshire. Bolduc is running against Bruce Fenton and Chuck Morse in the in the upcoming GOP primary. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)© Provided by HuffPost

GEMOLOGY COMMODITY FETISH

This brilliant pink diamond sold for about $60 million

In this undated photo released by Sotheby's, The Williamson Pink Star is seen. The pink diamond was auctioned off at $49.9 million in Hong Kong on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, setting a world record for the highest price per carat for a diamond sold at auction. - Sotheby's/AP

Zoe Sottile - 

A stunning pink diamond has sold for nearly $60 million, more than twice the expected price.

The massive rock sold for 453.2 million Hong Kong dollars, or around $58 million, on Friday, according to auction house Sotheby’s. The stone was expected to sell for around $21 million.

The 11.15 carat pink diamond, referred to as the “Williamson Pink Star,” is one of the purest, pinkest diamonds ever to come to auction, according to a news release from Sotheby’s.

“The discovery of a gem-quality pink diamond of any size is an extremely rare occurrence – something that, with the recent closure of the Argyle mine, seemed until recently – highly improbable,” said Wenhao Yu, chairman of Jewellery and Watches at Sotheby’s Asia, in the release. “Driven by a limited supply and rising demand, prices for top-quality large pink diamonds over 5 carats have increased exponentially over the past decade, serendipitously setting the scene for the appearance now of this one-of-a-kind stone.”

The pastel-hued diamond was named in honor of two other pink diamonds, the CTF Pink Star, which sold for $71.2 million in 2017, and the “Williamson” diamond, a pink diamond gifted to Queen Elizabeth II.

The Williamson Pink Star was cushion-cut from a 32-carat rough diamond mined at the Williamson Mine in Tanzania, says Sotheby’s.

The stone is unique for both its size and its color. Pink diamonds are some of the rarest variants, according to Sotheby’s, and this rock is a particular standout because of its purity and clarity.

Hong Kong was the diamond’s last stop after traveling on a tour that included Dubai, Singapore, and Taipei.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

GEOLOGY PALEONTOLOGY

Fossils aplenty in B.C. town; digging for them encouraged

Doyle Potenteau - 

Looking for a quick getaway that’s close and offers something unique?


Fossils of leaves found near Princeton, B.C.© Submitted

The Town of Princeton in B.C.’s Southern Interior is rich with fossils, and digging for them is encouraged.

The mayor of Princeton, Spencer Coyne, said the town has a huge fossil history, and that it dates back to the late 1800s.

Read more:
Alberta man discovers prehistoric mammoth tusk in yard on Saddle Lake Cree Nation

“We’ve had a couple of really unique finds here,” said Coyne, adding locals have been digging for fossils as long as he can remember. “We have two species now that are only found in Princeton.”

“We’re talking about insects, plants and, if you’re really, really lucky, you’re going to find a fish,” the mayor continued. “You need to look for a shale outcropping. That’s kind of the key, looking for shale.

“You look between the layers of shale and you’ll find fossils.”

Kathy Simpkins, a volunteer at the Princeton and District Museum, said several papers have been written about the types of plant, fish and insect fossils found in and around Princeton.

The fossils range from around 50 million years ago, with Simpkins noting some are now extinct, while others have relatives living elsewhere in the world, but no longer in B.C.

“They’re Eocene fossils, so after the age of dinosaurs, but not long after,” said Simpkins. “The rock around here is 50 to 51 million years old, and the dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago.”

A satellite rendition can be viewed online of what the Earth looked like 50 million years ago.

At the time, Simpkins says the ocean was slightly closer to B.C., and the Cascade Mountain range had yet to form, resulting in a warmer climate despite being at a higher elevation.

“It gave this interesting mix of birch and pine along with sassafras trees and palm-like trees,” said Simpkins. “It’s not the usual forest you’d see here today.”

If unearthing fossils is for you, the first stop is Princeton’s museum, where examples of what can be found are on display.

“You can get it in your mind’s eye of what the rock will look like, the colours and the shape, whether it’s blocky or rounded. That’s really helpful for finding fossils.”

Prehistoric shark tooth fossil discovered by boy in his Alberta yard

View on Watch  Duration 1:52

Simpkins says easy places to find fossils include gravel bars and sandbars along the Tulameen or Similkameen rivers, as long as it’s safe to do so.


“There’s lots of cobbles of petrified wood, and sometimes cobbles you can break open and find (fossils of) leaves, twig impressions and sometimes even an insect.”

Other places include banded stretches of rock near roads and highways, where sometimes rocks containing fossils tumble into ditches. Again, pending the location, safety is a priority as traffic can be nearby.

Asked what type of tools hopeful explorers should bring, Simpkins said an old butter knife can sometimes work wonders.

“Just that flat edge,” said Simpkins. “It’s flat enough to help split those layered rocks. Some people use a wide, flathead screwdriver. Sometimes people get excited and want to use a rock hammer and an actual cold chisel.”

Video: Meet Dave: Unique ancient shark skeleton on display at Manitoba fossil museum

Eye protection is also highly suggested, with Simpkins noting “sometimes you can get by without any heavy equipment at all. Sometimes they’re just laying there, waiting for you to flip the rock over and have a peek.”

The Princeton and District Museum is located in the downtown core, and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day during summer. And in it are fossils aplenty.

“People will come in and wonder if they have a fossil after finding something,” said Simpkins. “We try to help them out as best we can.”

“It’s a fun thing to do, looking for fossils,” she added. “If you have something interesting, or unusual or weird, bring it to your local museum, whether it’s Princeton or another place in B.C., and try to get it identified.

“Sometimes it does turn out to be a new species and you can get your name written up in a science paper, and it’s kind of cool.”

Video: Fossil species named in honour of Manitoba paleontologist

Coyne says searchers have to be cognizant of private or protected property, but that there are a number of areas to dig for fossils along Highway 5A and around the community. He says the best deposits can be found alongside roads.

“They’re just about everywhere,” said Coyne. “Find a piece of shale, break it in half and you might just be lucky.

“If you’re into rock-hounding and looking for fossils, Princeton is one of the best places to be.”

Video: Perfectly-preserved dinosaur embryo found inside fossilized egg in China

It's 'entirely illegal' for China to open police stations here, says Ottawa
Tristin Hopper - Friday

Aileen Calverley with Hong Kong Watch testifies before a House of Commons committee regarding reports that the People's Republic of China has opened three police stations around Toronto

.© Provided by National Post

Federal officials confirmed this week that it would be “entirely illegal” for Beijing to open police stations on Canadian soil, but that it would nevertheless fit within a pattern of growing Chinese interference in Canadian affairs.

“The activity that’s being alleged (the police stations) would be entirely illegal, totally inappropriate and would be the subject of very serious representations,” Weldon Epp, a China lead with Global Affairs Canada, told a Tuesday meeting of the House of Commons committee on relations between Canada and the People’s Republic of China.

The hearing was dominated by recent reports that Chinese law enforcement had opened three “service stations” in the Greater Toronto Area.

Last month, a report by the human rights group Safeguard Defenders detailed the existence of more than 50 “service stations” operated around the world by Chinese security services.

Three of them were in Canada, in Toronto neighbourhoods heavily populated by Chinese-Canadians.

The three addresses, provided to the National Post by Safeguard Defenders, show a private home in Markham, a convenience store in Scarborough and an address also listed as the headquarters of the Canada Toronto Fuqing Business Association.

The official word from China is that the stations are merely places for expats to conveniently renew IDs or drivers’ licences.

When one such station was discovered in Dublin, Ireland, the Chinese embassy’s official explanation to The Irish Times was “the pandemic made international travels not easy and quite a few Chinese nationals found their Chinese ID cards and/or driver licences expired or about to expire, and yet they could not get the ID renewed back in China in time.”

But according to Safeguard Defenders, the stations are clandestine hubs in the Chinese program of “involuntary return” — a system by which China compels its expats to return home for punishment in instances where they’re deemed to have violated Chinese law while abroad.

In just the last year, China itself has boasted that 230,000 of their nationals have been “persuaded to return” on various charges.

Epp told the committee that Canada has not filed a diplomatic complaint with Beijing over the stations pending the results of an RCMP investigation to confirm the allegations within the Safeguard Defenders report.

But he did tell the committee that there is “growing evidence of foreign interference” in Canada by China.

“Evidence suggests that the largest source of foreign interference in Canada by state actors is coming from (People’s Republic of China) sources,” said Epp, citing the latest report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.

He also said that the previous two years have brought a distinctive chill to his usual contacts with People’s Republic of China critics or dissident groups based in Canada.

“It’s really only in the last couple of years that the balance of conversation has shifted to them talking about how intimidated they feel within Canada, and the growing risk they feel for raising concerns, even within Canada,” he said.

Questions regarding the alleged police stations dominated the two-hour hearing, with Conservative, Liberal and NDP representatives all pressing Global Affairs on what risk the stations may pose to Chinese-Canadian constituents.

“I don’t think any of us are, to be honest, surprised,” said Heather McPherson, the NDP’s Foreign Affairs Critic. “We’ve heard for a long time about people intimidated and threatened in this country.”

The hearing also heard from Aileen Calverley, head of the group Hong Kong Watch, who dismissed the notion of the locations as “service stations,” since Chinese expats could just as easily seek such services at a consulate or embassy.

“ With the police stations, they can intimidate people like us,” she said. “I’ve been living in Canada for many decades, now I feel frightened .”

It’s not unprecedented that Canada would have the occasional foreign police officer posted within our borders. The New York City Police Department, for one, has operated an intelligence post in Toronto ever since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But these postings are all done with Canada’s official sanction and often under the auspices of bilateral treaties, neither of which apply in the case of the Chinese “service stations.”

“There is space for legitimate police liaison state to state, but the allegations reported in the press would fall well outside of that,” said Epp.

The committee also touched on increasingly aggressive Chinese behaviour with regards to Taiwan, including several recent incidents in which Chinese warplanes buzzed Royal Canadian Navy vessels transiting the Taiwan strait.

Paul Thoppil, the assistant deputy minister for Global Affairs, chalked it up to Beijing’s embrace of “the view that international rules and norms don’t apply to ‘great’ powers in their spheres of influence.”

Why Beijing is allegedly opening police stations on Canadian soil

Canadian distrust of China hits a new low

Canada to allow international students to work more hours due to labour shortage


OTTAWA — Canada will temporarily allow international students to work more than 20 hours a week, in a bid to address ongoing labour shortages.


Canada to allow international students to work more hours due to labour shortage© Provided by The Canadian Press

Speaking at a coffee shop in Ottawa Friday morning, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the changes will start on Nov. 15 and be in effect until the end of 2023.

"This change is going to help sustain Canada's post-pandemic growth," Fraser said. "It's also going to give many post-secondary students a greater opportunity to support themselves."

The labour market remains exceptionally tight, with nearly one million job vacancies reported in the second quarter of 2022.

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations welcomed the announcement, saying it was a step toward improving international students' educational experience.

“Allowing international students to work more off-campus hours will help students afford their education and increase educational experiences," said Christian Fotang, the alliance's chair.

"This is not only a win for international students, but also for Canada.”

Mikal Skuterud, an economics professor at the University of Waterloo, said it's understandable that students would be supportive of the change, but warned it comes with trade-offs.

Skuterud said international students are often filling low-skilled jobs and the new policy will incentivize more employment in low-paying parts of the economy.

"The whole framing of the issue around labour shortage is problematic. Why are labour shortages a problem?" Skuterud said.

Shortages incentivize competition among employers, he added, which drives up wages and improves working conditions.

If Canada wants to help international students cope with expenses, then it should take a look at the exorbitant tuition fees they pay, Skuterud said.

Fraser also announced a pilot program to help automate the application process for students to extend their study permits.

That will allow for some applications to be automatically approved, but the new process will not automatically reject claims.

Fraser said the pilot is aimed at reducing immigration backlogs and freeing up officers to work on more complex applications.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2022.

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press

Planned condo development on Juno Beach site cancelled after government deal

Yesterday 

OTTAWA — A proposed condominium development on Juno Beach in France has been cancelled after public outcry and a three-year legal fight.


Planned condo development on Juno Beach site cancelled after government deal

© Provided by The Canadian Press

The Canadian and French governments are helping the town of Courseulles-sur-Mer buy a parcel of land where a developer planned to build a 70-unit building.

Veterans Affairs Canada says the construction "posed a threat to both the integrity of Juno Beach itself, and Juno Beach Centre operations."

Developers planned to use a private road next to the centre for nearly two years during construction, which the centre says would cause "chaos" and safety concerns for visitors.

Federal and local governments are also negotiating a 99-year lease to protect a parcel of land where Canadian soldiers landed on D-Day in June 1944, including a portion of Juno Park where visitors to the centre tour old bunkers.

The plans sparked a campaign called Save Juno Beach, which encouraged people to write letters to members of Parliament and French officials calling for a halt to the development plans.

"Canadians make a promise every Remembrance Day to never forget the sacrifices made for future generations. And this year, we forced our government to step up and protect the legacy and reputation of our country as an ally and force for good in a war-torn world," the group's founder, Cindy Clegg, said in a statement.

The Juno Beach Centre, a privately run museum that was built in 2003, has run into financial difficulty due to the pandemic and a legal fight with the building's developer.

"The settlement will ensure that the Juno Beach Centre and the Canadian memorial presence in Normandy are preserved for generations to come," the centre said in a statement Friday.

Veterans Affairs agreed in January to provide up to $500,000 over the next two years to cover some of the Juno Beach Centre's expenses and help it weather the pandemic, on top of the $500,000 Ottawa gives the museum each year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2022.

The Canadian Press

U.S. reports highly lethal bird flu in Arkansas chickens

Publishing date: Oct 07, 2022 • 

CHICAGO — A highly lethal form of avian flu infected a commercial flock of breeding chickens in Arkansas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, widening an outbreak of the disease in the key southern producing region.

Nationwide, more than 47 million birds have been killed by avian flu or culled to control its spread this year in the nation’s worst outbreak since a record 50 million birds were wiped out in 2015.

Top states for raising broiler chickens for meat, such as Georgia and Alabama, had largely escaped infections in commercial flocks before the case in Arkansas.

Arkansas produced more than 1 billion broiler chickens last year, making it the third biggest producing state, U.S. government data show.

The disease hit a commercial broiler breeder chicken flock in Madison County, Arkansas, in the northwest corner of the state, the USDA said. State officials quarantined the premises, and birds there will be culled, the agency said.

Europe has experienced its worst bird flu crisis ever this year, with nearly 50 million poultry culled. The persistence of the virus over the summer has raised the risk of widespread infections next season, the EU’s Food Safety Agency said. (Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by David Gregorio)

‘It’s horrifying’: 1st case of fatal viral disease spreads to wild rabbit in Alberta

Carolyn Kury de Castillo - 6h ago

A large number of deaths of feral domestic rabbits has occurred in Calgary, and this time, it's in Nose Hill Park.


Dead feral domestic rabbits in Nose Hill Park in Calgary© Maureen Hurley

Local veterinarians are raising the alarm about the first time a highly contagious disease has made the jump to a wild rabbit in the city.

Maureen Hurley normally encounters around 50 or 60 feral rabbits around the Nose Hill parking lot near Edgemont, but this weekend she hasn't seen any jumping around.

"It's been really sad. I noticed on Tuesday about four dead ones lying around," Hurley said.

A look under a storage container reveals one live rabbit but many more dead ones -- likely the latest victims of a highly contagious virus called rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV2).

Read more:
‘Nasty virus’ may be to blame for mass die off of Calgary’s feral rabbit population

"I did see somebody putting some in a plastic bag the other day and pulling some out from underneath but there were some that they couldn’t reach, so there are dead ones under there," said Dr. Leticia Materi, a veterinarian at the Calgary Avian and Exotic Pet Clinic.

"There's been a mass die-off of animals in the Nose Hill Park area."

She said the first reported cases this summer were in Manchester Industrial and Seton.

"This virus is highly contagious and it’s only a matter of time before large pockets of feral rabbits are affected. It is spread, not only by rabbit to rabbit but also by scavengers and people can pick it up on their hands and clothing," Materi said.

Since the end of August in Calgary, there have been seven confirmed cases of feral domestic rabbits.

RHD is contagious among rabbits, hares and pika -- members of the order called lagomorphs -- but has not been known to pass on to humans or other animals.

Now a case in Calgary of a mountain cottontail in Queen's Park Cemetery shows the virus has made the jump to a wild animal for the first known time in the province.

"It's the first that we have identified here in Alberta," said Dr. Jennifer Davies, a veterinary pathologist and director of the Diagnostic Services Unit with the faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary.

Read more:
Deadly rabbit virus enters southern Alberta: ‘This disease is very scary’

"They (wild rabbits and hares) won't have immunity, and it could lead to significant die-offs in the population and they are an important part of our ecosystem as herbivores and prey species for other carnivores and scavenging animals," Davies said.

Materi said RHD has been seen in Edmonton and in the Lethbridge area and has been been making its way through Ontario now.

She said the concern now is the disease spreading outside urban areas.

"It's horrifying. It could potentially have a devastating effect on certain species. If it gets into the wild population, there is a chance that it can spread beyond the borders of the city," Materi said.

Hurley said the suffering could have been avoided by people not dumping their unwanted pets.

"People keep dumping and abandoning them. They are little domestic animals," Hurley said. "It’s really cruel to dump them because they can’t really fend for themselves and they become vulnerable to predators and disease, starvation and winter temperatures."

Rabbit owners are being warned to get their pets vaccinated and stay away from known hot spots.

Dead rabbits in the city can be reported to Alberta Environment and Parks or the city at 311.

ICYMI
Scientists predicted how much higher seas will rise due to ice melt — it's grim

Cathrine Versfeld, and ,Universe Today - 7h ago

Recent climate research published in Nature Climate Change has confirmed that melting icecaps in Greenland will contribute to a minimum of 27 centimeters rise in ocean levels even if we collectively stop burning fossil fuels immediately.


Scientists predicted how much higher seas will rise due to ice melt — it's grim© Provided by Inverse

We have reached a “point of no return.” And what makes it worse is that this is the most conservative estimate, as it only factors in the contribution made by the ice shelf in Greenland. Projections have also confirmed that overall planetary warming has exceeded the original estimates for global heating and that we are in for a difficult millennium if drastic action isn’t taken immediately.

The relationship between planetary and climate science is extremely important, and the two disciplines frequently intersect. When, for example, it was discovered that there had been water on mars, planetary scientists were able to identify features and rock formations that could only have come from contact with water. Similarly, the expansion of orbital science and communications satellites has helped weather and planetary scientists get a better understanding of large-scale changes on the earth’s surface, including major changes in our oceans. Such a massive amount of data was never possible to collect before, even with multi-generational observations, when changes were observed on the Earth’s surface through measurements and photography over many decades.

Although historical research has been based on computer models that take data to create likely models for the future, the inclusion of satellite data in this more recent study has shown a much grimmer prognosis than was previously projected. The satellite data measured ice loss in Greenland between the years 2000 and 2019 and provided more accurate measurements than were previously available. The results have allowed scientists to measure actual melting of the ice shelf, accounting for factors like snowfall. And although it’s hard to fathom the long-term effects of rising sea levels when you live inland, an estimated 600 million people are living in coastal regions, defined as anywhere less than 10 meters above sea level, and they will all be at risk soon.

Hitting rock bottom

Jason Box from the National Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), who led the research, has confirmed that these current, devastating estimates are still the “rock-bottom minimum.” He projects that, even conservatively, we will see these numbers more than double in the next century. The reason for this is that the research has only accounted for global heating. But there are many other ways that ice sheets can melt at their margins in other regions, which are due to a range of different factors. So, although this new study has provided a more concrete way to estimate the future loss of ice (and the resulting rise in sea levels) it does not provide a definite timeline.

Related video: Sea Level 'Fingerprint' Confirms the Greenland Ice Sheet Is Rapidly Melting

Duration 1:30 View on Watch

In terms of climate change, and global warming, the term “tipping point” has often been used as a phrase to identify the “point of no return.” This is the point at which the crises may become exponential and unstoppable, no matter what we do. And sadly, this study has confirmed that we are firmly at that point, as stated by William Colgan of GEUS:

“Whether it’s coming in 100 years or 150 years, it’s coming. And the sea-level rise we are committed to is growing at present because of the climate trajectory we’re on.”

But Colgan also points to a possible solution, provided action is taken quickly enough.

“The difference between 78 cm and 27 cm highlights the difference that can be made through implementing the Paris agreement. There is still a lot of room to minimize the damage.”

What needs to happen next

As glaciers and ice sheets in mountainous areas, including the Antarctic across the globe, begin to show a significant loss, fast and decisive policy changes may at least mitigate catastrophic future climate-related events.

As support grows within the scientific community, activists are helping to spread the word, because the real change will come from hard-line political and legislative action. In the words of Gail Whiteman at the University of Exeter, “The results of this new study are hard to ignore for all business leaders and politicians concerned about the future of humanity. It is bad news for the nearly 600 million people that live in coastal zones [less than 10m above sea level] worldwide. As sea levels rise, they will be increasingly vulnerable, and it threatens approximately $1 trillion of global wealth.”

Southern Hemisphere farmers will tell you in their dry, grassy summers that “Fire is an everybody problem.” It’s fair at this point to say that global warming is also an “everybody problem.” It is no longer a question of “if” but much more “when” and how we can mitigate the coming changes that await us all.

This article was originally published on Universe Today by Cathrine Versfeld. Read the original article here.

US soccer president tells CNN more misconduct cases reported

The U.S. Soccer Federation received three new reports of misconduct in the sport this week after details of systemic emotional abuse and sexual misconduct in the National Women's Soccer League were revealed in an independent investigation, U.S. Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone told CNN.


US soccer president tells CNN more misconduct cases reported© Provided by The Canadian Press

Parlow Cone was interviewed twice Friday by the television network and didn't provide details of the new misconduct cases. She said the U.S. Center for SafeSport and other authorities have been made aware of the three new reports.

“I’m also hoping that people do feel safe now to come forward or are … learning about where to come forward to report this because this is so important,” Parlow Cone told CNN. “We’re not going to be able to root it out unless more brave people come forward to tell us.”

Five of 10 NWSL coaches either were fired or stepped down last season amid allegations of misconduct.

More than 200 people were interviewed by investigators looking into the allegations of harassment and sexual coercion and abuse. The NWSL, U.S. Soccer, teams and individuals provided documents. The independent investigation, run by former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates and the law firm King & Spaulding, focused on three former coaches: Paul Riley, with the Portland Thorns and later the North Carolina Courage, Christy Holly of Racing Louisville and Rory Dames of the Chicago Red Stars.

On Wednesday, the Portland Thorns dismissed a pair of team executives a day after owner Merritt Paulson removed himself from a decision-making role with the team. Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler also stepped back from his role, and Racing Louisville President James O’Connor apologized to fans and a former player who alleged she was sexually abused by Holly.

On Friday, England and the U.S. women's teams played a friendly before nearly 77,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. They wore teal armbands in solidarity with sexual abuse victims and together held a banner that read “Protect the Players” just before kickoff.

The Yates report made numerous recommendations to prioritize player health and safety. U.S. Soccer also said it would immediately implement programs to protect players.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Associated Press

HOCKEY CANADA GANG RAPE COVER UP

Hockey Canada interim board chair submits resignation amid sex assault scandal

CBC/Radio-Canada - `10/08/2022

Andrea Skinner, interim board chair of Hockey Canada, has submitted her resignation, CBC News has confirmed, days after a controversial parliamentary committee meeting where she defended Hockey Canada's handling of group sexual assault allegations involving past junior players.


Andrea Skinner, interim board chair of Hockey Canada, has submitted her resignation, according to a copy of an email obtained by CBC News.© Courtesy airdberlis.com

The hockey organization has been under intense public scrutiny since May, when it settled a $3.5-million lawsuit by a woman who alleged that eight hockey players — including members of the 2018 world junior team — sexually assaulted her at a hotel in London, Ont., while she was heavily intoxicated.

On Tuesday, Skinner appeared before the House of Commons heritage committee and said toxic behaviour is a society-wide issue and that it's "counterproductive" to use Hockey Canada as a "scapegoat."

Many MPs called her response arrogant and tone-deaf. Major sponsors — including Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire and Nike — have responded to the scandal by cutting ties with Hockey Canada permanently or by withdrawing funding for men's hockey this season.

In an email obtained by CBC News, Skinner wrote: "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."

Radio-Canada first reported on Skinner's email Saturday evening. Hockey Canada confirmed to The Canadian Press later in the evening that Skinner had submitted her resignation.

A CBC News Fifth Estate investigation last week found that police have investigated at least 15 cases of alleged group sexual assault involving junior hockey players since 1989 — and half of those cases surfaced in the past decade.

In total, at least 50 players have been accused in the alleged crimes, with 25 eventually charged, The Fifth Estate has found. Only one of those charged has been convicted, after pleading guilty to a lesser offence.

Roughly 10,000 minor junior players and nearly 1,000 major junior players are registered to play in Hockey Canada-governed leagues and teams.

Hockey Canada's descent into scandal: From 'custodians of the game' to 'toxic' status

How the organization that calls itself the 'custodians of the game' had a remarkable fall from grace

Author of the article: Adrian Humphreys
Publishing date: Oct 08, 2022 • 

Hockey Canada senior executives were before a Heritage Committee meeting on Oct. 4, 2022.

Perhaps the leadership of Hockey Canada thought Canadians loved their hockey more than people, like executives of the sport’s national governing body are accused of doing, by deed if not intent.

Over six months of scandal and investigation, the organization that calls itself the “custodians of the game” has faced withering criticism without easing concerns of sponsors, politicians, citizens or other hockey groups.

The accusations and allegations are horrific enough — gang rapes and other sexual assaults by junior players followed by secret payouts that silence complainants and settle lawsuits — but the response by Hockey Canada’s leadership has gone even further in stripping public confidence.

It’s a remarkable fall from grace.

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Hockey Canada held a special place in the cultural landscape of the country. It basked in the reflected glory, passion and joy of a sport considered the national pastime, as it managed ice hockey programs from entry-level to high performance teams, including at world championships and the Olympics.

What has been revealed by investigative news stories, parliamentary committee testimony and complaints of a “toxic” culture is a steep departure from the sportsmanship, integrity, honesty and teamwork the organization preaches to kids learning to skate and pass a puck.

It started with a lawsuit.

On April 20, a woman filed a $3.55-million court action against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and unnamed players alleging she was sexually assaulted in a hotel room by eight male players — including some members of Canada’s 2018 gold medal-winning World Junior team — after a Hockey Canada Foundation gala in London, Ont., that same year.

Her lawsuit alleges Hockey Canada knew of the incident but failed to properly investigate it or punish the players.

The allegations were not tested in court and the defendants did not file statements of defence because the case was settled out of court by Hockey Canada in May.

Soon after the allegations and settlement were revealed by Rick Westhead at TSN, the federal government ordered a forensic audit of Hockey Canada to see if federal money was used in the settlement.

Hockey Canada’s chief executive officer, Tom Renney, and its president, Scott Smith, were called before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in June to answer questions.

Hockey Canada President Scott Smith appears as a witness at the standing committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, looking into how Hockey Canada handled allegations of sexual assault and a subsequent lawsuit. 

PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK/THE CANADIAN PRESS

The committee was told the 19 hockey players present at the gala — including eight accused of rape — were not required to speak with third-party investigators, and the settlement required the woman to accept a non-disclosure agreement preventing her from discussing it.

The non-disclosure agreement was criticized for instilling a culture of silence — burying problems from scrutiny and accountability — and it remained in place until the day before the executives were scheduled to appear again before the parliamentary committee in July.

The larger concerns caused the federal government and some corporate sponsors, starting with Scotiabank, to hold back funding to Hockey Canada.

Renney retired at the end of June, replaced by Smith who took over on Canada Day. Two weeks later, Hockey Canada issued an open letter.

“We have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 national junior team or to end the culture of toxic behaviour within our game,” the statement said. “For that we unreservedly apologize.”

Hockey Canada said it was reviewing its governance, creating a confidential complaint system and making sexual violence and consent training mandatory for everyone in the elite stream.

The response was unconvincing for many, especially as scandals continued to unfold.

Four days after trying to put scandal behind it, The Canadian Press revealed Hockey Canada maintained a fund that draws on minor hockey membership fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims. It was called the “National Equity Fund.”

The parliamentary committee was then told that non-disclosure agreements were used in settlements of other sex assault complaints — along with $8.9 million in payouts to 21 sex assault complainants since 1989; and there had been two other sexual assault complaints in recent years, but executives refused to discuss them.

Then yet another bombshell.

Halifax police was asked to investigate an alleged gang rape by some members of Canada’s 2003 men’s World Junior hockey championship team. Halifax co-hosted that tournament.

Hockey Canada was also found this month to have a second multimillion-dollar fund — called the Participants Legacy Trust Fund — that moved player fees into an account earmarked “matters including but not limited to sexual abuse,” The Globe and Mail reported. The organization sought to extend the trust’s expiration date from 2020 to 2039 because more claims were expected.

Hockey Canada’s reaction to it all seems a strategy — as Justin Trudeau, the prime minister, called it — of “digging in their heels.”

A public relations firm was hired to help with damage control, but whatever advice they gave, it is bewildering to think the organization is following much of it.

Hockey Canada executives were accused of inadequate, tone-deaf responses, protectionism, and entrenchment rather than truth and reconciliation.

In August, Hockey Canada’s board chair Michael Brind’Amour resigned, saying he was stepping aside to accelerate change. He had been the chair since 2018. Toronto lawyer Andrea Skinner was named interim chair, but Smith remained both CEO and president.

On Tuesday, Skinner supported Smith and his executive team and said managerial change isn’t needed, attributing calls for Smith’s firing to “misinformation” and “cynical attacks.”

She suggested Hockey Canada was made a “scapegoat” for toxic culture and it retained an “excellent reputation.”

Without these specific Hockey Canada executives, she said, there might not be any more amateur hockey in Canada.

“I think that would be very impactful in a negative way to all of our boys and girls who are playing hockey,” she said of replacing Hockey Canada executives. “Will the lights stay on at the rink? I don’t know.”

Politicians from all parties remain highly critical.

Trudeau said the executive’s responses “boggles the mind” and there is a “total loss of faith in that organization by everyone.”

Pascale St-Onge, the federal sport minister, said of Hockey Canada executives: “I hope that they understand the message and leave before they burn it to the ground.”

Conservative MP John Nater, criticized Hockey Canada leadership for appearing “more concerned with shifting the narrative than with meaningfully implementing change.”

Watching it publicly unwind from the bench, corporate Canada has now jumped onto the ice; large sponsors are cancelling funding partnerships. Corporate spokespeople aren’t shy about why.

Tim Hortons has done more to align its brand with hockey than most non-sports corporations, but this scandal prompted it to withdraw support for men’s hockey programming run by Hockey Canada, including sponsorship for the World Junior championship. Money will instead go to women’s, youth and para hockey teams.

We’re deeply disappointed in the lack of progress

TIM HORTONS SPOKESPERSON

“The organization needs to take strong and definitive action before it can regain the faith and trust of Canadians. We’re deeply disappointed in the lack of progress,” a Tim Hortons spokesperson said.

Sobeys grocery chain is trying to support the women’s national hockey team directly, without any connection to Hockey Canada.

“We were disgusted by all of the allegations and, as importantly, Hockey Canada’s unwillingness to make meaningful change to earn back the trust of Canadians and ensure everyone feels welcome and safe when playing the sport,” said Paul Wyke, a Sobeys spokesman.

Telus has partnered with Hockey Canada since 2004, but it also ended its sponsorship of Hockey Canada’s men’s hockey programs for the season, including the World Juniors.

“We are deeply disheartened by the lack of action and commitment from Hockey Canada to drive necessary cultural change,” said Steve Beisswanger, a company spokesman. “We remain passionate fans and supporters of the sport of hockey and stand committed to enabling systemic change to make hockey safe for all.”

Imperial Oil’s Esso brand has aligned itself with hockey in Canada as a corporate strategy for more than 40 years.

A whole section on Esso’s website boasts that hockey is “more than a game. It’s a way of life.” It too is ending its sponsorship for Hockey Canada’s men’s programs, including the World Juniors, “until we see meaningful accountability, transparency and change,” said Keri Scobie, an Esso public affairs officer.

Canadian Tire, where many Canadians buy their first skates and hockey sticks, jumped ship Thursday.

“In our view, Hockey Canada continues to resist meaningful change and we can no longer confidently move forward together,” said Jane Shaw, senior vice president of communications at Canadian Tire Corporation.

The company “will continue to invest in our beloved national game” by re-directing money to other hockey-related groups, including bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination prevention.

On Friday, the last of Hockey Canada’s four top-tier sponsors pulled out: Nike, the athletic brand giant, suspended its partnership, a relationship in place since 1999. Esso, Telus and Tim Hortons were the other “Premier” marketing partners.

It isn’t only outsiders condemning the culture and decisions at Hockey Canada.

Players on Canada’s Olympic and world championship women’s hockey teams issued a joint statement demanding Hockey Canada address “toxic behaviour” in the sport.

Hockey Québec, the sport’s governing body for that province, said its board no longer has confidence in the national organization and won’t be transferring player fees. The Ontario Hockey Federation asked Hockey Canada not to collect its player fees this season.

At an emergency board meeting this week, Hockey Nova Scotia also voted to suspend fees to Hockey Canada.

“Hockey Nova Scotia has lost confidence in Hockey Canada’s senior leadership. Hockey families and non-hockey families alike agree: Change is needed at the highest levels of the game,” the board said. Hockey New Brunswick did likewise on Friday.

Eleven weeks from now, Canada’s junior hockey elite are set to defend the country’s title against many of the world’s best under-20 hockey players at the 2023 World Junior Championship. The tournament is an adored holiday season tradition for many. It’s run by Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Halifax and Moncton, N.B., are set to host the ten-country tournament Dec. 26, 2022, to Jan. 5, 2023, but the scandal involving Hockey Canada and junior hockey players is not ignored there either.

“I am deeply disappointed by what we continue to see with Hockey Canada,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said Thursday.

“Before the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship goes forward, we need to see some meaningful changes that respect the concerns of Nova Scotians and Canadians.”


With additional reporting by The Canadian Press
• Email: ahumphreys@postmedia.com 

'It's just mind-blowing:' Experts baffled by Hockey Canada's scandal response

Experts say Hockey Canada's "scorched-earth" response to criticism over its mishandling of alleged sexual assaults could sink the sport's national governing body as we know it today.



The organization has been under intense scrutiny since the spring, facing mounting public outcry and calls for change. But despite frozen federal funding and fleeing corporate sponsors, both former and interim board chairs this week defended the current leadership in Ottawa.

“The logic of their entrenchment is beyond reason ... it's just mind-blowing,” said Paloma Raggo, a professor at Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration who teaches philanthropy and non-profit leadership.

“Are they willingly trying to sink this organization?”

Many organizations, from corporations like banks to charities and amateur sports bodies such as Hockey Canada, are governed by boards of directors. Hockey Canada's board oversees its management and staff, and is elected by its member provincial hockey federations.

Raggo said Hockey Canada’s bylaws include a mechanism where member organizations can call a special meeting to revoke individual board directors, and questioned why this mechanism hasn’t been used yet.

Former Hockey Canada board chair Michael Brind'Amour stepped down in early August ahead of the end of his term this fall. The next board election is scheduled to happen in November.

Hockey Canada has been grilled by Ottawa over why president and chief executive officer Scott Smith, who’s held the position since July 1, has not been fired amid the string of scandals. Interim chair Andrea Skinner defended Smith this week and said hockey shouldn't be made a "scapegoat" for toxic culture that exists elsewhere in society.

Raggo rejected the idea that getting rid of Smith would be scapegoating. Though he’s new to the role, he’s not new to the organization, and appears to be a symbol of continuity at a time when the public is calling for change, she said.

"It's a person that's been involved in that organization since 1997," she said. "It kind of defeats the purpose."

York University law and governance professor Richard Leblanc said the board's job is not to defend management, but to act in the best interests of the organization.

"I've never seen this in almost 30 years," he said. "It's implausible to see that the best interests of the organization are served by continuing a scorched-earth, entrenchment policy."

As the organization sheds sponsors and member support, it's clear that stakeholders have lost confidence in the board's ability to identify and respond to the risks that face Hockey Canada, said Christie Stephenson, the executive director of the Dhillon Centre at the UBC Sauder School of Business.

"Board directors' obligations are to the organization, and that also means its stakeholders," she said.

The board's role is to not only oversee, but to challenge management, said Stephenson — not to back them up when things go sideways.

There are two big questions being asked, said Stephenson: what kinds of consequences management of Hockey Canada should face, but also whether its current board is the right governing body to oversee those consequences.

Come election time, Hockey Canada's members will exercise their votes and make clear whether they want the board's current lineup to remain, said Stephenson, who teaches director training and board governance.

She said the board of directors should be asking themselves whether they are the right people to sit at the table — and answering honestly.

“Directors absolutely need to be aligned with the values of an organization,” she said. “And it's pretty clear that stakeholders believe Hockey Canada's values need to shift.”

Hockey Canada's mission statement, according to its website, is to "lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences."

The organization initially came under fire in May when it was revealed an undisclosed settlement had been paid to a woman who alleged in a $3.55-million lawsuit she was sexually assaulted by eight players — including members of the country's world junior team — after a 2018 gala in London, Ont. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The ugly headlines continued with the revelation of a fund partly maintained by minor hockey registration fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims.

Organization officials testified on Parliament Hill in July that the organization had paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and abuse claims since 1989, not including this year's payout to the London plaintiff.

Raggo likened the Hockey Canada scandal to recent stories about Gymnastics Canada and the WE charity, and said it's clear more oversight is needed of the entire Canadian non-profit sector.

Hockey Canada released an action plan to address safe sport issues and has appointed former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell to conduct a governance review, which Raggo said is a positive step.

But Leblanc says that’s not enough.

"There's only one right decision, which is a leadership change at the top,” he said. “If they don't do that, then the board ultimately is going to be replaced.”

The tone at the top is crucial at a time like this, said Stephenson.

“The board directors are ultimately the stewards of the organization. And if they really don't have or are unable to regain the confidence of their stakeholders, then it's probably time to go.”

Leblanc said that as it stands, there is no winning for Hockey Canada.

"The deck chairs on the board have shifted a tiny bit, but the messaging has not. It tells me that the board is in denial,” he said.

"It's a fallacy that this will go away. This will not end well."

Trudeau's suggestion that a new hockey organization could take over from Hockey Canada isn't as far-fetched as some might think, according to Leblanc, if the organization appears unable or unwilling to change.

"If the prime minister is smart, and I think he is, he's working on the legislation as we speak. I think sometime in the next couple of weeks, Hockey Canada may be ruled to be defunct."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2022.
Joshua Clipperton and Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press

London, Ont. lawyer at centre of Hockey Canada scandal says toxic culture starts in local rinks

Alessio Donnini - 11h ago

The London, Ont. lawyer, whose client's sexual assault allegations against junior hockey players kick-started a reckoning around the national organization that represents the sport, wants Canadians to consider their own views around hockey.


Rob Talach is a lawyer based in London, Ont. The sexual assault case he represented has been a catalyst in forcing a review of Hockey Canada.© CBC

Rob Talach's client's received a $3.5-million out-of-court settlement after alleging that eight players, including members of Canada's world junior team, sexually assaulted, humiliated and degraded her at a hotel room in London in 2018.

Since then, a parliamentary committee has found Hockey Canada has paid $8.9 million to 21 complainants since 1989.

This past week, corporate sponsors including Nike, Chevrolet Canada, Scotiabank and Canadian Tire suspended their support for Hockey Canada, and multiple provincial organizations announced they would withhold players' fees from the organization.

Talach, who has been watching events unfold since he made his client's case public in April, said he hopes Hockey Canada will reform but said shifting hockey culture lies with parents, players and fans.

"The buck doesn't stop with Hockey Canada. I think people are really upset here because there's a lot of soul searching and looking in the mirror. If there's a stink about hockey in Canada, it starts at your local arena," said Talach.

"It starts at how you view players and how players act. It is not totally the responsibility of a board of old men. It is how we all treat hockey players and how they act. There's a huge problem there."

Talach points out that hockey players are treated like stars, when their role is to provide entertainment.

"They're grossly overpaid and over worshipped and this may be the reckoning moment to say, 'why do we do that?'," said Talach. "Without the worship, they aren't allowed to do this, and they wouldn't be able to get away with this."

Hockey Canada had hired retired Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell this summer to conduct a governance review. Friday, CBC News learned that the board of directors has postponed elections for one month. The organization has also renewed its liability insurance for executives with a $1.9M annual premium

"From my vantage point, it seems quite clear to me that Hockey Canada has received and taken the advice that they can simply weather this storm. There doesn't seem to be any effort to change the direction of the ship substantially, they're just going to batten down the hatches and ride it out," said Talach.

Talach says he has little faith in the organization for the short-term.

"It's going to take a lot, and it's going to take time, and it's going to take a culture shift to get rid of that. I don't think Hockey Canada is anywhere near taking any of those steps yet."

‘Shame to the sport’: IIHF urged to suspend Hockey Canada

Saba Aziz - Yesterday - GLOBAL NEWS

The International Ice Hockey Federation has been asked to suspend Hockey Canada as uproar grows over the national sport body’s handling of sexual abuse allegations.


File: The Hockey Canada logo. Hockey Canada is facing mounting criticism over the way it is handling sexual assault allegations.

© Frank Gunn, THE CANADIAN PRESS

In a letter dated Oct. 5, the North American division of the World Association of Ice Hockey Players Union (WAIPU), said Hockey Canada is in breach of IIHF bylaws, calling for the international federation to take immediate action.

Read more:

Hockey Canada — More sponsors cut ties as group ‘continues to resist’ change

“Considering the alarming events that have come to light globally since May 3, 2022, not limited to numerous sexual assaults over decades and the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Canadian trust funds, it is imperative that the IIHF take action,” Sandra Slater, president of WAIPU North America, said in the letter shared with Global News Friday.

WAIPU also pressed that a new National Sport Organization (NSO) application be received from Canada.

“We call now for the IIHF to take action according to the IIHF bylaws. Hockey Canada has brought shame to the sport of hockey not only in Canada but globally.”

Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny since this spring over its mishandling of alleged sexual assaults by players, including two alleged incidents from 2003 and 
The disgraced national body has seen sponsors jump ship and three provincial organizations publicly speak out this week alone.

The organization initially came under fire in May when it was revealed an undisclosed settlement had been paid to a woman who alleged in a $3.55-million lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by eight players — including members of the country's world junior team — after a 2018 gala in London, Ont.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

The federal government froze its funding in the immediate aftermath, while a number of sponsors followed suit.

In recent days, Telus, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Scotiabank and Esso have all cut ties with Hockey Canada for the upcoming 2022-23 season.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold said they're "deeply concerned about Hockey Canada's lack of judgement and professionalism," in a joint statement released Friday.

The mayors say they are looking for "meaningful change" within the organization before the world junior championships take place in their cities.

"As mayors we have discussed our growing concerns as the Hockey Canada situation has unfolded and we believe accountability is paramount," the statement said, noting further discussions will take place with council colleagues and provincial hosting partners.

Hockey Alberta announced in a statement Friday morning that it won’t withhold funding from the national body, however, senior manager of communications Brad Lyon said it isn’t completely out of the question.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said cutting ties with the world junior hockey event is also not off the table and that he's "fully aligned" with Nova Scotia's decision to monitor Hockey Canada's response to the controversy before hosting the tournament.

Hockey Canada's summer of ugly headlines continued with the revelation of a fund partly maintained by minor hockey registration fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims. Halifax police were also asked to investigate an alleged sexual assault by members of the 2003 junior men's team.

Hockey Canada officials testified on Parliament Hill in July that the organization had paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and abuse claims since 1989. That figure didn't include this year's payout to the London plaintiff.

Hockey Canada responded by releasing an action plan to address safe sport issues and has appointed former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell to conduct a governance review.

In a heated committee meeting on Tuesday, MPs pressed Hockey Canada officials for answers on the organization’s handling of sexual assault.

Former chair Michael Brind’Amour, who resigned in August, and his successor, interim chair Andrea Skinner, were questioned while appearing before the standing committee on Canadian heritage in Ottawa.

They both defended the national sport body’s handling of sexual abuse allegations dating back to 2018, saying appropriate steps were taken despite widespread criticism.

-- with files from The Canadian Press.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau even floated the idea of creating a new governing body for the sport.

Read more:
Hockey Canada failing to grasp ‘serious’ situation amid outcry, Trudeau says

The organization initially came under fire in May when it was revealed an undisclosed settlement had been paid to a woman who alleged in a $3.55-million lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by eight players — including members of the country's world junior team — after a 2018 gala in London, Ont.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

The federal government froze its funding in the immediate aftermath, while a number of sponsors followed suit.

In recent days, Telus, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Scotiabank and Esso have all cut ties with Hockey Canada for the upcoming 2022-23 season.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold said they're "deeply concerned about Hockey Canada's lack of judgement and professionalism," in a joint statement released Friday.

The mayors say they are looking for "meaningful change" within the organization before the world junior championships take place in their cities.

"As mayors we have discussed our growing concerns as the Hockey Canada situation has unfolded and we believe accountability is paramount," the statement said, noting further discussions will take place with council colleagues and provincial hosting partners.

Hockey Alberta announced in a statement Friday morning that it won’t withhold funding from the national body, however, senior manager of communications Brad Lyon said it isn’t completely out of the question.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said cutting ties with the world junior hockey event is also not off the table and that he's "fully aligned" with Nova Scotia's decision to monitor Hockey Canada's response to the controversy before hosting the tournament.

Hockey Canada's summer of ugly headlines continued with the revelation of a fund partly maintained by minor hockey registration fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims. Halifax police were also asked to investigate an alleged sexual assault by members of the 2003 junior men's team.

Hockey Canada officials testified on Parliament Hill in July that the organization had paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and abuse claims since 1989. That figure didn't include this year's payout to the London plaintiff.

Hockey Canada responded by releasing an action plan to address safe sport issues and has appointed former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell to conduct a governance review.

In a heated committee meeting on Tuesday, MPs pressed Hockey Canada officials for answers on the organization’s handling of sexual assault.

Former chair Michael Brind’Amour, who resigned in August, and his successor, interim chair Andrea Skinner, were questioned while appearing before the standing committee on Canadian heritage in Ottawa.

They both defended the national sport body’s handling of sexual abuse allegations dating back to 2018, saying appropriate steps were taken despite widespread criticism.

-- with files from The Canadian Press.

Nike suspends relationship with Hockey Canada amid sex assault allegations

(Reuters) - Nike Inc has decided to suspend its relationship with Hockey Canada as the national governing body faces increased scrutiny over its handling of sexual assault allegations, the world's largest sportswear maker said on Friday.


FILE PHOTO: Nike's logo is seen in Los Angeles© Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Nike is the latest sponsor to cut ties with Hockey Canada, which has been under fire since news broke in May of an alleged group sexual assault involving members of the country's 2018 world junior team and subsequent out-of-court settlement.

Despite a freeze in funding by the federal government and mounting calls for wholesale changes, Hockey Canada's interim board chair earlier this week defended the current leadership in place at the national governing body.

"After further review of Hockey Canada's response, we've suspended our relationship with the federation and paused our support," Nike said in a statement obtained by Reuters.

"We'll continue to monitor the situation and await more information regarding Hockey Canada's actions to address the findings in these investigations and create a safe environment for all athletes."

Related video: Hockey Canada official grilled over payouts to alleged abuse victims
Duration 2:49  View on Watch

Hockey Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The allegations against the unnamed players have not been proved in court but the Canadian federal government froze funding to the national governing body over its handling of the alleged sexual assault.

The embattled organization has since said it will no longer use a fund that was financed by registration fees of players across the country to settle sexual assault claims and also announced a full governance review.

Since the allegations surfaced, Hockey Canada unveiled a plan to "eliminate toxic behaviour" and the body's chief executive said he is the right person to lead efforts for positive change within the sport across the hockey-loving country.

"Nike believes sport should create a safe, supportive environment for all athletes," Nike said.

"We're deeply concerned by the ongoing reports around Hockey Canada. We believe significant and substantive action is required to support athletes and transform hockey for future generations."

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Toby Davis)

Is it game over for the Hockey Canada brand? Maybe, say ad experts

James Dunne - Yesterday 

As company after company has cancelled sponsorships with Hockey Canada over its mishandling of gang-rape allegations and millions in payouts to complainants with sexual misconduct claims, communications experts are not sure the organization can ever recover with advertisers.


With top sponsors dropping Hockey Canada and the organization this week resisting calls for a leadership change, marketing experts say quick, meaningful action is needed for the brand to ever recover.© Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

"This is probably a textbook case of the worst brand crisis that an organization could be in," said Prof. Ann Pegoraro, the Lang Chair in Sport Management at the University of Guelph.

On Thursday, after weeks of controversy during which sponsors temporarily paused support, Hockey Canada was battered by big-name brands fully backing out of deals with the organization.

Canadian Tire announced it is permanently ending its partnership, while the telecom giant Telus, grocery chain Sobeys and food delivery app Skip the Dishes also pulled the plug on elements of their support.

In recent days, Tim Hortons, Scotiabank, and Esso parent company Imperial Oil have also cut ties with Hockey Canada.

Meanwhile, the federal government has ratcheted up criticism of the organization, while Hockey Quebec said it will no longer transfer funds to the national body.

The damage to the brand is adding up so fast that Pegoraro wonders if the very name Hockey Canada could soon be too toxic to be rehabilitated with sponsors.

"I think they have limited time left that they could salvage it and by limited time I mean, days at best, if they don't make wholesale changes."

Ticking clock

Pegoraro believes Hockey Canada's name could still be a positive association for sponsors if it acts fast.

But, she says, because it hasn't installed new leadership and offered what she sees as a true apology, "they're still sliding down."

Megan Matthews, a communications strategist and co-founder of Instinct Brand Equity in Toronto says Hockey Canada can't rehab their brand by resisting change.

"They're digging their heels in, in a way that's almost reinforcing the culture that is bubbling up here. Not looking at a leadership change, not looking at an internal review that they're going to publish the results of," she said.

"I think that they are missing their window of opportunity."

This week, interim board chair Andrea Skinner said Hockey Canada won't be making changes to its management, and told a parliamentary committee that the organization has an "excellent reputation."

Brian Levine, the president of Envision Sports & Entertainment, a Toronto communications agency that works with elite athletes, companies, and charities, said the clock is ticking on a comeback for the Hockey Canada name.

And not just with past sponsors but future supporters as well.

"I can't imagine anyone wanting to start a relationship with Hockey Canada. So that's where definitely there's been some serious damage done."

The values factor

Levine, Matthews and Pegoraro all said that Hockey Canada's sponsors are responding to consumer pressure as customers show an increasing interest in aligning themselves with companies they feel share or promote their values.

"Consumers nowadays are really interested in ethical brands in brands that are meaningful in their community and that resonate with them," explained Pegoraro.

David Chong has worked with both Canadian Tire and Scotiabank on marketing projects in the past.

The managing director of MKTG Canada, a Toronto company that specializes in sponsorship, says the big brands had practically no choice but to cut ties with Hockey Canada.

"To do nothing in this regard is almost complicit," he said. "It's almost like saying we accept what they did is OK and we're going to continue to fund them.

Potential fallout for the whole sport

Levine says that while companies that make hockey equipment or sports will stick with the game, the damage related to Hockey Canada could impact marketing for the whole sport.

With banks or telcos or car companies he wonders: "Do they say, well, there's another sport in Canada that's on the rise called soccer, right?"

He says any company looking at an endorsement deal with a male hockey player will vet the athlete more carefully than ever.

"That scrutiny is going to be challenging for agents representing male hockey players, for sure."

Pegoraro, however, believes the draw of hockey is too powerful for many advertisers to resist but agrees the landscape has changed for sponsorships and endorsements with male players.

"I would hope it's changed for the positive for women and for our para athletes so they are seen as the places to go."

Sponsors will have new power

Pegoraro says Hockey Canada has made many mistakes in handling the allegations and complaints about junior hockey players and failing women.

She also says they made a huge miscalculation in not protecting their sponsors.

"This is not what a partner does, when you have this kind of a relationship where we have millions of dollars, exchanging hands."

Matthews says whether Hockey Canada is overhauled and saves its name or a new body is created with a new name, sponsors will have a greater level of influence going forward then ever before.

"I think that if a brand was brave enough to put their hands up and say, 'Let us help you, let us help fix this,' then Hockey Canada would have to do everything they say.

"They're going to have a real trouble with sponsorship for many years to come."

Hockey Canada is under pressure to make significant leadership changes amid a widening scandal over how the organization has responded to reported cases of alleged sexual assaults.


A Hockey Canada logo is visible on the helmet of a national junior team player, as seen in a photo taken in Calgary in August. Hockey Canada is under pressure to make significant leadership changes amid a widening scandal over how the organization has responded to reported cases of alleged sexual assaults.© Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

Graeme Bruce - Yesterday 

The sporting organization has seen key corporate sponsorships withdrawn and sharp criticism from federal politicians, as it has so far resisted calls for a shift in its leadership ranks.

In recent months, Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit with a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight Canadian Hockey League players, including members of Canada's world junior team, in London, Ont., in 2018.

But other allegations of hockey players being involved in group sexual assaults have since come to light, and it has been revealed that Hockey Canada has paid millions of dollars for sexual abuse settlements since 1989.

The CBC's The Fifth Estate has reported that junior hockey players have been investigated by police for at least 15 alleged incidents of group sexual assault since 1989.

Across Canada

At the provincial level, two prominent organizations have disavowed Hockey Canada over its handling of the scandal.

Calls to reform the organization were renewed after a fresh wave of allegations were levelled against the embattled governing body. Some provincial hockey federations, which collect fees on behalf of Hockey Canada, came out against the organization, with some taking steps to halt the transfer of those fees.

Hockey Québec was the first of those provincial organizations to come out against Hockey Canada and said it has lost confidence in the national governing body, while others have called for changes in leadership.

Related video: Hockey Canada official grilled over payouts to alleged abuse victims
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Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey N.L. are among the organizations halting the transfer of player fees to the national governing body.

Inside corporate boardrooms

Hockey Canada also faces pressure from corporate sponsors that have curtailed their financial support.

While some sponsors suspended or limited their sponsorships of Hockey Canada in the summer, when allegations against the organization first came to light, more brands have since come forward to publicly distance themselves from hockey's governing body.

According to Hockey Canada's website, sponsorships account for 27 per cent of its funding.

Canadian Tire, for example, appears to be permanently cutting ties with Hockey Canada, instead directing support "to hockey-related organizations that better align with our values."

Tim Hortons, Telus Corp. and Scotiabank have all pulled men's program funding for the upcoming season, but will continue to support women's, para and grassroots programs.

Nike has suspended its partnership with Hockey Canada. The company says "significant and substantive action is required to support athletes and transform hockey for future generations."

How Hockey Canada sponsors have reacted publicly

In Ottawa

Hockey Canada has also faced criticism from federal politicians, with Canada's sport minister saying it is time for the organization to "clean the house."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said "there needs to be wholesale change" at Hockey Canada, and it's possible a new organization could be created to replace it.