Evidence of meeting #68 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was soccer.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Is it a lack of attention from the board or a lack of effort? It's obviously a lack of resources, but we have the third-biggest player pool. The United States is able to have a league. I know it has a bigger population, but we could theoretically have a couple of teams in the league that you guys play in.
Why is this? I'm a bit baffled.
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
In the buildup to the bid for the 2026 World Cup, it was clear that a country needed a men's league in place in order to host the World Cup. That was the intention of Canada Soccer when it bid for the 2026 World Cup. It was to create a men's league. It is our understanding that at that time there was very much a disregard for a women's league in that conversation.
That's a very umbrella example of why we're sitting here today. There's been a blatant disregard for the women's program in the past on the part of Canada Soccer executives.
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
On your sentiment of being baffled, you're not the only person. I think it's a sentiment that's shared not only by us, seeing that we don't have a professional league, but I think others around the world. When they see the success of our program, they can't comprehend that we don't have a professional league. I think, in that sense, we are an anomaly.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I would just like to say that before you retire, Christine, I'd like to see a women's professional league in Canada, so that you can close out your career in a Canadian league.
I have one last question. When Martin asked the question earlier, you didn't give names. Should we call Victor Montagliani?
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
Yes.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
That's perfect.
I want to close by thanking you again. You guys are all inspirations. It really is a privilege to have you here.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I notice that fans in the room are wearing jersey number 12 of the Canadian team. In sports as a rule, players demand royalties for jersey sales. That is one of the ways they make money.
Ms. Sinclair, have you received royalties for the sale of these jerseys?
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
Yes.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
So that should be included in the agreement. There are people who are using your success to earn money. Some of that money should be going to you. This illustrates the whole problem.
I would like to ask you something related to what my colleague Mr. Housefather was saying.
The organization has Project 8, but it seems to be a dead end. Do you have hope for this project or does it frighten you?
I note that most of you play in the United States or elsewhere. Would you be interested in coming to play in Canada? Could this project be a solution?
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
I absolutely have hope for Project 8. It was headed by someone who is a friend of all of ours, a former teammate, someone who has an incredible mind for the game in this country and an incredible passion for bringing women's professional soccer to Canada. I have very high hopes for Project 8. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we absolutely would love to be given the chance to play professionally in our own country.
What Diana Matheson and Project 8 are doing is something that others were not doing when they were thinking about a men's league. It's long overdue. However, the right people are working on this behind the scenes. I'll speak for myself when I say that I'm excited about the potential.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
I understand that Whitecaps is involved. Do you have any expectations for the potential involvement of Toronto FC or CF Montréal in the organization? In the United States, for instance, we have seen that women's basketball has been successful, thanks to support from the men's league.
Do you have the same expectations of the main major league soccer, or MLS, teams that play in Canada?
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
That is one of the many ways Project 8 can be successful. Obviously, three of us play in the NWSL for teams that are affiliated with MLS teams. It is successful. What's important for Project 8, and a professional league in Canada moving forward, is just getting the right people in place, whether that is affiliated with an MLS team or not. We've obviously all played in Montreal. It's such a great atmosphere. We'd definitely love to come back.
Liberal
NDP
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
I'm just going to ask for something for this committee, and then ask a last question.
Mr. Housefather just talked about some of the money that's come through. It's always following the money and finding out about the money.
I would like to know about the money that went to Own the Podium and to Canada Soccer for women. I would like an audit. I would like that information, to find out where the money flowed to and what programs it supported. I'd like that information for this committee, please.
My question is just around other documents. As it's been mentioned, there will be a report. There is information. We want to get as much transparency and information for you as you need. Are there any other documents that you feel would be beneficial for a report, or to help women and girls in this sport now and in the future?
Player Representative, Canadian National Soccer Team Player, Canadian Soccer Player's Association
It might be helpful to have CSB's financials as well. I'm very curious how much is going through CSB to the CPL.
NDP
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Yes, that would be interesting to see.
Have we captured that? That's it.
I want to thank you for coming today and for having this very important conversation.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you.
One of the things the clerk and I were wondering about is that an audit is something that has to be called for, and we haven't called for that yet. It may be that if we do, we will get the audit and it may be part of the transparency that we're talking about. It needs to be directed to someone to get that done, so I'm flagging that for when we come up with our report at the end of the day.
I just wanted to thank the witnesses for coming, and I wanted to thank you for your...everyone has said it, and I feel redundant if I say thank you for your team spirit, your courage and your ability to stand up and say that the emperor has no clothes. A lot of people are very afraid to do that, because it could impact their career—it could impact everything. I want to thank you for that.
I want to say, as a chair who has been here with Hockey Canada, that we are embarking on this safe sport study, and we are looking as a committee specifically at governance issues, which is a theme of much of this: transparency, accountability, knowing exactly where everything is going, and not just money, but equity and all of those kinds of things. I want to say that it shocked me when we heard earlier on with Hockey Canada—and now we're hearing again—that the places where we send our young children to learn how to be team players, to learn how to have courage and resilience and to go for it, seem to have so little transparency and accountability, and all of that.
I know this committee is focused on looking at governance, not only now but down the road, and I think Canada is new, not new really, but Canada is new to the issue of professional football. All of the European countries and Latin American countries, etc., have been playing football forever. A child can grow up and say, “I want to be a professional player one day.” We need to start talking about how we catch up with the rest of the world, and I thank you for all your suggestions. You were very honest and clear in what you think needs to be done, and I want to thank you again for being here.
Thank you very much.
[Applause]
We are now adjourned.