Hockey Canada is joining a new independent program to prevent abuse in the sport.

The organization announced yesterday that it is a full signatory to Abuse-Free Sport, a new program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport in Canada.

All complaints of abuse, discrimination and harassment at the national level will now go directly to the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner.

For incidents involving other levels of Hockey Canada-sanctioned programming, an additional, confidential reporting mechanism overseen by an independent third party has also been formed.

The independent third party, led by Erin Durant and Brian Ward, will handle all hockey-related maltreatment complaints affiliated with Hockey Canada beyond a national programming level including sexual violence, harassment, abuse, and discrimination.