Good afternoon, Madam Chair and honourable committee members. Thank you for having us here today.
There is no greater honour for athletes than stepping on the competitive stage and representing our country. The four of us have had that privilege for many years, and we would all tell you that these have been some of the greatest moments of our lives. However, they have not come without frustration and sacrifice.
Our sport is having a critical moment in Canada. Last year, the men participated in their first World Cup in 36 years, and we will host the next men’s World Cup in 2026. The women’s team also won gold in Tokyo in 2021. The success of the national teams is inspiring the entire country, and the future should be brighter than ever.
However, as the popularity, interest in, and growth of the women’s game sweep the globe, our most painstaking battle has been with our own federation while trying to obtain fair and equitable treatment in the way we are supported and paid.
For over a decade, members of the women’s national team have asked Canada Soccer for detailed disclosure of its finances and for the compensation provided to the men’s national team. Some information has been provided, but it has never been enough to allow the women’s team to understand the breakdown of revenue and amounts allocated to both national team programs. Canada Soccer’s usual response is to refer us to the annual reports and financial statements on its website. As a result, for many years we were forced to negotiate in the dark.
Canada Soccer’s approach has reflected a culture of secrecy and obstruction. As players, we were constantly told that our compensation—or lack of it—was all Canada Soccer could afford. In 2017, the women’s team and Canada Soccer finally reached an agreement that would pay the players a small salary. Once again, we were told this was all it could afford to pay the players. Therefore, imagine our shock when we found out, in 2021—the year we won Olympic gold—that the men’s national team players were earning more than five times what a women’s national team player was earning.
On a personal note, I have never been more insulted than I was by Canada Soccer’s own president, Nick Bontis, when we met with him last year to discuss our concerns. I was tasked with outlining our compensation ask on behalf of the women’s national team. The president of Canada Soccer listened to what I had to say. He then, later in the meeting, referred back to it as, “What was it Christine was bitching about?” To me, this spoke volumes about the lack of respect Canada Soccer has for its women’s national team.
As a team, we do not trust Canada Soccer to be open and honest as we continue to negotiate not only for fair, equitable compensation and treatment but also for the future of our program.