Quebec Premier Francois Legault at a news conference, Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at the legislature in Quebec City. Legault is calling on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to provide a public explanation regarding allegations of sexual abuse, torture and hazing detailed in a decision by an Ontario judge.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to provide a public explanation regarding disturbing revelations in a recent Ontario court decision of sexual assault and torture suffered by young players.
The premier called the hazing abuse detailed by the judge “disgusting” and told reporters in Quebec City that the league cannot remain silent.
Earlier, the provincial minister responsible for sports said that her announcement of anindependent complaints officer in 2020to give victims a voice was “a step in the right direction.”
Isabelle Charest said that all sports federations must have a policy of integrity in place that ensures the environment is “free of abuse, harassment and intimidation.”
In a Feb. 3 decision on a class-action lawsuit, Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell described the “horrific and despicable and unquestionably criminal acts” that former players in Canada’s three major junior hockey leagues, including the QMJHL, suffered at the hands of teammates and staff.
The judge accepted the former players’ evidence but denied their request to certify a class-action lawsuit against the three major junior hockey leagues and its teams.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
