MP wants federal funding to Calgary Stampede pulled after abuse settlement reached
Global News
Member of Parliament, George Chahal, says he's calling on the federal government to halt funding to the Calgary Stampede after a settlement was reached in the class-action lawsuit.
A member of Parliament says he’s calling on the federal government to halt funding to the Calgary Stampede.
Liberal member George Chahal, who represents Calgary Skyview, says the Stampede has lost people’s trust.
A partial settlement was reached this week in a class-action lawsuit alleging the organization allowed a performance school staffer to sexually abuse young boys.
Phillip Heerema is serving a 10-year sentence for luring six boys into sexual relationships when he worked for the Stampede’s Young Canadians School of Performing Arts.
The lawsuit’s three dozen plaintiffs are all men who were students, employees, contractors or volunteers with the performance school.
The Stampede apologized in a statement and said it takes responsibility in the hopes of helping the victims heal.
Chahal said government funding should only be restored when the victims feel there has been genuine accountability.
“The Calgary Stampede must recognize that they have lost the trust of many Calgarians,” Chahal said in a letter posted Thursday night on social media.