Callers reporting misconduct to helpline were referred to law firm chosen by Hockey Canada

For the last three years, callers to the federal government's Canadian sport helpline who wanted to report bad experiences in hockey were referred to either a law firm or an insurance claims adjuster chosen by Hockey Canada, CBC News has learned.

When the telephone service launched in March 2019, Sport Canada collated a list of contacts provided by national sport organizations so that the helpline's operators could refer callers to resources available for their respective sports.

Marie-Claude Asselin, the director in charge of the helpline, told CBC News that, until recently, Hockey Canada provided two potential contacts for callers that wanted hockey complaints investigated: Henein Hutchinson, a firm that specializes in criminal defence cases and civil litigation; and Crawford and Company, which offers insurance loss adjustment services.

Danielle Robitaille, a partner with Henein Hutchinson, appeared before the Commons heritage committee on July 26 to discuss an investigation she was retained by Hockey Canada to conduct into allegations of a group sexual assault by members of the 2018 world junior team in London, Ont.

She told the committee several times that she could only discuss the parts of her work that were not covered by solicitor-client privilege. But when asked, Robitaille told MPs that this 2018 investigation was the first mandate her firm had received from Hockey Canada.

Now, hockey officials are confirming it wasn't the last. When a helpline to assist victims of mistreatment was set up by the federal government the following spring, this law firm continued to be Hockey Canada's go-to investigator.

"As part of the safe sport helpline, participating [national sport organizations] are required to recommend