Major sponsors of the Canadian Olympic Committee are "closely monitoring" the sexual harassment investigation targeting President Marcel Aubut, wanting to "ensure that the millions they spend every year continue to produce good-news stories related to athletic achievements," according to sources cited by Gordon & Leblanc of the GLOBE & MAIL. Aubut was a "key driver of the push to increase corporate sponsorships at the COC, and was recently meeting sponsors to get them to renew their commitments." Officials at RBC and Bell Canada Enterprises "refused to comment on the matter." A spokesperson for Canadian Tire said, “We take these allegations very seriously and have asked the COC for more information.” The Hudson’s Bay Company said that it "will continue to support Canadian athletes." Meanwhile, Gordon & Leblanc report more women "are coming forward with allegations" against Aubut, who has stepped aside during the investigation. The women accuse Aubut of "making unwanted advances that include fondling, touching and forcibly kissing them." On Thursday, the TVA network reported that Aubut "reached a financial settlement in a complaint made by a former executive assistant around the time he was a partner at Heenan Blaikie, the now-defunct law firm" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/2).
