Latest news with #EM
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Canada's hockey case exposed a toxic culture – yet the accuser ended up on trial
The stunning conclusion to a pivotal sexual assault trial has left some observers in Canada shocked but unsurprised – not only by a judge who seemed to scrutinize the female accuser more harshly than the five ice hockey players who ultimately walked free, but by yet another missed opportunity for a reckoning in the macho culture of a major professional sport. The blockbuster case seemed to crystallize any number of hot-button topics – the #MeToo movement, the nature of consent, the role of pornography, the impunity of men – in the most Canadian way possible: through hockey. The trial, which occurred over several weeks in May, saw five members of Canada's lionized World Juniors team – Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart and Cal Foote – charged with sexual assault after an incident in a hotel room in London, Ontario, seven years ago. The complainant, identified as 'EM', who was 20 at the time, alleged that she left a bar with McLeod and had consensual sex with him – but had no idea he then texted other players asking them to join in a 'three-way'. In court, EM testified that she was drunk and intimidated by multiple large men entering the room, which she estimated at times to be as many as 11, some of whom were just there to eat and socialize. EM also said that although she engaged in group sex acts with some of them, they were as part of a 'porn star' persona she adopted in order to placate the men in what she felt was a dangerous situation – and did not actually consent to any of the activity. The men, for their part, have claimed EM was sexually aggressive, begged them for sex and actively consented to all of it. McLeod also recorded two videos of EM after the group encounter had finished, in which she said she had consented to sexual activity. EM testified that while she didn't remember the videos being filmed, she recalled McLeod 'hounding' her to say she consented. In fact, EM testified over nine grueling days, seven of them under by cross-examination by five separate teams of lawyers, one for each accused. Only one of the men testified. So when Justice Maria Carroccia told a packed London courtroom last Thursday that she found the complainant to not be 'credible nor reliable', it elicited gasps. As an example of these 'issues related to credibility', the judge said it was 'telling' that EM testified she weighed 120 pounds – despite records showing she was 138lb. EM had explained she was just sticking to what she had estimated previously. The judge interpreted it as mendacity. 'The complainant, rather than answering the question truthfully, chose to repeat what she had said previously,' she said. Carroccia also questioned how drunk EM could have been, as videos did not show 'any obvious signs of impairment, such as stumbling' and suggested she 'initiated touching' with McLeod at the bar despite having initially said she did not. In the end, the judge determined that EM fully consented, and was essentially lying in court – a callous take that appeared to scrutinize the female complainant's claims far more harshly than the five men, according to Daphne Gilbert, a criminal law professor at the University of Ottawa. 'I was extremely disappointed in the decision, and to me, it's the worst possible outcome for [the woman] and efforts to tackle sexual violence generally,' Gilbert said, noting the judge's conclusion seemed an extreme one to reach based on EM's testimony, and appeared to indicate that she considered the complainant to be on trial, rather than the men. 'She didn't believe the complainant and only focused on what deficiencies she saw in the complainant, and doesn't speak about the men at all,' said Gilbert. 'I find that astonishing in a case like this,' she said. 'She just completely blamed EM, and in doing so, she invoked stereotypes.' But few stereotypes may ultimately have proved as powerful as the one of Canada's mainly young, mainly white and mainly male hockey stars being infallible national symbols – a stereotype which the case at first threatened to explode. The entire sordid saga did not emerge into public view at all for many years: police dropped their initial police investigation in 2019 after seeing video that made them think EM was not as drunk as she had stated; EM then sued Hockey Canada in 2022, which conducted its own investigation and settled with her for an undisclosed amount. It was only when the settlement was leaked to the media that a public uproar saw police reopen the investigation, and lay charges in early 2024. But it also revealed the existence of a secret Hockey Canada fund, which the organization eventually admitted it had specifically created to pay settlements in sexual assault cases against players – apparently lifting the lid off a long-simmering culture of abuse and cover-ups extending far beyond the case at hand. Sponsors dropped Hockey Canada like flies. In 2022 the incident spilled over into parliament, with hockey executives called in for questioning about what they knew of the London case and whether hockey had a problematic culture of the kind that would require the existence of a secret fund to settle assault claims. The furore led to multiple reforms, including mandatory training for athletes and staff on sexual violence and consent. The players themselves were barred from the NHL, though many have since been playing in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. Now that the trial is over, the immediate discussion has turned to whether the NHL would readmit them. The league said in a statement that even though the men had been acquitted, and the allegations found not to be criminal, they were disturbing and 'the behaviour at issue was unacceptable'. It said it was conducting an analysis and 'determining next steps'. Many observers think it's likely the players will be made eligible again. Sponsors, meanwhile, have quietly returned to Hockey Canada. It was a starkly different atmosphere from 2022, and evidence that the trial alone was probably never going to be enough to bring a true reckoning to hockey culture, said Taylor McKee, an assistant professor at Brock University in Ontario who specializes in hockey and masculinity. He said in order to address a culture of secrecy and lack of boundaries, Hockey Canada needed to turn a 'flamethrower' toward the issue. If one person has behaved in a way that is compromising someone else's safety, including sexual assault, McKee advocates for punishing the entire team. 'That's the kind of messaging I want to hear from Hockey Canada: a zero tolerance policy,' he said. But with cars passing the courthouse after the verdict honking in support of the players, and with the union for professional hockey players now advocating for the men's return, what appears more likely, at least for now, is for the story that threatened to shake the foundations of a sport being forgotten as quickly as possible.
National Post
15 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Jamie Sarkonak: Hockey Canada judge believed in truth, not 'believe all women'
Article content She didn't leave happy, though: towards the end, McLeod asked her if she had STDs, and whether she was going to be leaving soon, which she felt was rude. E.M. also testified that McLeod also seemed annoyed at her when she returned to the room to search for a lost ring; she took an Uber home and was found crying in the shower by her mother, who 'took it upon herself' to report a sexual assault to police. Article content E.M. later explained to the court that her actions were driven by fear — fear that she never mentioned until she filed a civil suit against Hockey Canada, four years after the fact. Her mind 'separated' from her body to cope, she claimed. The judge didn't buy her story: important details had changed over time, and E.M.'s own concept of truth was uncomfortably fuzzy. Plus, E.M. initially told police that she didn't think the men would have physically forced her to stay. Article content The judge didn't hypothesize the complainant's actual feelings about what happened, but I suspect E.M. was quite miserable. She may have felt shame and regret for cheating on her boyfriend, as the defence argued during the trial. The little oral sex that was had was awkward and not erotic at all. The STD question may have felt like an accusation. Article content Article content Pop culture tells women that consensual sex is a neutral to empowering act, and good feminists will tell their friends that there's nothing to be ashamed about in sex. Slut shaming, we all knew in the good year 2018, was bad. But missing from that intense belief in female agency was the other side of the coin: that women can consent to something and wish they hadn't. Article content And certainly, the men regret it too. Their evidence suggested they took care to ensure consent was given at the time, and even that wasn't enough to keep an investigation from pausing, perhaps snuffing out, their NHL careers. McLeod and Foote were put on indefinite leave last year by the New Jersey Devils, as was Hart by the Philadelphia Flyers and Dubé by the Calgary Flames. And in 2022, Formenton may have lost out on a new contract with the Ottawa Senators due to the allegations; he played in Sweden until the charges were laid in 2024, and now works in construction. As for the future of these five men, the ball is still in the Ontario Crown's court. Prosecutors will have to decide in the next month whether to appeal for another shot at securing convictions; there's still a way this can drag out for years. Article content Supporters of E.M. will say the acquittals amount to a terrible outcome for women and sexual assault survivors, but they're the opposite. If sexual assault is to be taken seriously, it needs to mean something. It's to the actual victims' benefit that Carroccia didn't bend the rules to acrobatically extend the concept of sexual assault to new frontiers of apparently regretful intercourse, as courts have done in the past; doing so would have cheapened the concept to dollar store levels. Article content So, now what? After the decision was read, E.M.'s lawyer, Karen Bellehumeur, immediately took to calling for reform. 'While the accused's rights are important, those protections should not come at the expense of survivors' well-being,' she told a media scrum late Thursday. She expressed frustration with the fact that E.M. had to testify for nine days and was subject to 'insulting, unfair, mocking and disrespectful' cross-examination. 'She's really never experienced not being believed like this before.' Nine days of careful scrutiny is a very modest ask when a man is facing jail for an apparently consensual act that didn't pass the initial police sniff test. Article content
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Goldman's Asset Arm Says Emerging Markets Catching Only ‘First Wave' of Flows
Emerging markets are set for further gains as renewed appetite for diversification and light positioning bolster the case for the asset class, which has been marred by years of outflows, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. 's asset-management division. 'The flow tide is turning — and we believe EM is catching the first wave,' said Anupam Damani, co-head of emerging-market debt at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. 'After years of being sidelined by US-centric risk taking, diversification is quietly reclaiming its place in global portfolios.'
BusinessToday
3 days ago
- Business
- BusinessToday
Prelude To Next Rally
Global equity markets may face near-term volatility and consolidation despite recent strong rallies, as investors grapple with shifting positioning, seasonal trends, and persistent uncertainty surrounding US trade policy, according to Standard Chartered Bank. However, the bank maintains a bullish long-term outlook for equities, advising investors to use any pullbacks as opportunities to increase their holdings. Global stocks have performed well since Standard Chartered's H2 2025 Outlook, with global stocks climbing 6.4%. Asia ex-Japan equities have notably outperformed US peers, rising 8.6% compared to 6.5%. Other risky assets, such as high-yield bonds, have also seen positive performance, while the US dollar has shown volatility and bond yields and gold have remained range-bound. Market Headwinds on the Horizon Standard Chartered points to several 'scattered clouds' that could introduce market jitters: US Trade Policy: US policymakers have threatened to reintroduce higher tariffs on major markets starting August 1. While some trade deals, like the recent one with Japan, have been concluded, the focus remains on the nature of agreements with key partners such as the EU, South Korea, and India. The Japan deal, which set a 15% baseline tariff, suggests a potentially higher general tariff rate than previously estimated. Seasonal Volatility: The coming months, particularly September, are historically known for increased volatility in global equity markets. This 'September Effect' is often attributed to factors like investors returning from summer breaks, tax-loss harvesting, and institutional portfolio adjustments at the end of the third quarter. These risks are expected to shift market attention back to the Federal Reserve and crucial US economic data. Concerns about the inflationary impact of potential new tariffs could surface, although it's encouraging that long-term market inflation expectations remain subdued. Investors will also closely monitor US labor market data to assess whether the economy remains on a 'soft-landing' path. Standard Chartered believes that any growth slowdown would create room for the Fed to implement a rate cut in September. Opportunities Amidst Volatility Despite the short-term headwinds, Standard Chartered identifies opportunities for investors: USD Short Squeeze: The US dollar is poised for a brief rebound due to what the bank identifies as one-sided investor positioning. Standard Chartered recommends using such a rebound to add to assets that typically benefit from a weaker USD in the long run. This includes a diversified equity allocation with a tilt towards Asia ex-Japan equities and Emerging Market (EM) local bonds. USD Bonds: Temporary rebounds in bond yields should be viewed as opportunities to add to USD bonds. However, the bank advises managing volatility by avoiding excessively long maturities, maintaining a 5-7-year maturity profile. Gold: Gold continues to be an attractive core holding within portfolios, serving as a reliable diversifier. Standard Chartered also highlights the 'Trump put' factor, a theory suggesting that the US President may ease his hawkish trade stance if markets react negatively to his policies, potentially providing a floor for market downside. The bank's long-term quantitative models have turned more bullish, reinforcing their recommendation to leverage any market pullbacks as strategic entry points for increasing equity exposure. Related
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Quebec sexual violence advocates shocked by ruling in Hockey Canada trial
Following the judgement that acquitted 5 national junior hockey players of sexual assault, people who work with victims of say the judgment is upsetting After five national junior hockey players were acquitted of sexual assault, people who work with victims of sexual violence say the judgement is extremely upsetting and may do more harm in the future. Supporters of the complainant known as E.M. stood outside the London, Ontario courthouse Thursday. Melanie Lemay, co-founder of Québec contre les violences sexuelles (Quebec against sexual violence), said she was there in spirit. 'No matter what happened yesterday, I believe E.M. And a lot of people do. And we need to do better to protect young women,' said Lemay. Justice Maria Carroccia said she didn't find the complainant's evidence to be credible or reliable. Author and director Lea Clermont-Dion was sexually assaulted when she was a minor. She says the judgement was too harsh. 'It was really difficult to hear those words, because I've got the impression that the verdict will reinforce myths and stereotypes that continue to be reinforced in society about the victim blaming,' said Clermont-Dion. Author of Crossing the Line: Sexual Assault in Canada's National Sport, Laura Robinson says she understands why there had to be an acquittal. Beyond reasonable doubt is what's needed, but says she was 'shocked' by the judge's remarks. 'When you understand where traumatized victims are coming from, you know, that they have, discrepancies in how they account things,' she told CTV News. Advocates say the high profile nature, and not guilty verdicts, will discourage survivors from coming forward. A report released last year found just six per cent of sexual assaults are reported to police. 'We don't need to be discouraged. People believe you, and it's not because they don't go to trial that doesn't validate what you've been going through,' said Lemay, who is a survivor herself. And if a case reaches trial, Clermont-Dion says E.M.'s seven days of cross examination are enough to dissuade anyone. 'I had a cross-examination of two days and a half and it was absolutely difficult. So we have to think about those way of doing things. We can improve it. We can change things so that the confidence towards did justice system is improve[d],' she said. Clermont-Dion and Lemay have done consent workshops with the QMJHL and Montreal Canadiens, respectively. But add more needs to be done to change hockey culture. 'So we still need to think, on the wider spectrum, on the how do we teach consent to younger generations because we don't have this discussion with them,' said Lemay.
