Hockey Canada Looks To Implement Ethics Policy For Licensed Merchandise Partners

Hockey Canada, the "most influential sports governing body in Canada, is pursuing an ethical sourcing policy for its merchandising partners for hockey sweaters, T-shirts and other fan goods," according to Westhead & Feschuk of the TORONTO STAR. The organization's senior staff last Thursday presented the executive committee "with a proposal to begin discussions with three or four industry watchdogs that monitor suppliers of western retailers in the developing world." Hockey Canada COO Scott Smith said, "We want to keep up to the highest standards of transparency." He added that Hockey Canada staff "plan to contact labour rights groups, including the Workers Rights Consortium in Washington and the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production, a program enlisted by retailers and manufacturers to certify suppliers are meeting their standards." The move "comes amid increased scrutiny of the international garment industry" (TORONTO STAR, 10/22).