Evidence of meeting #73 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 video is available from Parliament.
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Soccer
I'd have to get back with the exact calculation, but with the restitution payments, I think that math would not actually come out to the same number that they've reported.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
I also want, Mr. Heffernan, for you to confirm what we found out last week. We had testimony at the time from Mr. Cochrane, saying that all your filings had been done by Canada Soccer.
It turned out not to be the case. Can you confirm that this week you filed financial statements for nine years in arrears that had not been filed up to that moment by Canada Soccer?
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Soccer
I have a small correction. The filings were made, but they had deficiencies in them. Yes, the financial statements were filed this week for the nine years that were outstanding, although we had published them on our websites back in the last few years.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you, Peter. You are 30 seconds over time. I'm sorry about that. You can come back to it in your next round.
We now go to the second round. It's a five-minute round, and I will begin with Mr. Shields for the Conservatives.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
We have three people here today. You've heard the testimony that we've had before us that came from women's soccer and some other people. We had Hockey Canada here, and they didn't give us answers. Eventually their whole board resigned.
You must have some understanding of what the public's view of Canada Soccer is. What do you think it is? What do you think the public thinks of you—all three of you sitting in those positions?
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
I'll start first. It's seven years since I was at Canada Soccer. I've been seven years as president of Concacaf, so with respect to anything to do with Canada Soccer, other than obviously that they're a member of our confederation, I haven't been on the board for seven years.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
You have no idea what the public might be thinking of this board.
Conservative
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
Sure. The sentiment out there is confusing, because this is a multi-layered, very complex negotiation. I've been criticized online, and personally, with the abuse that I and my family received about pay equity, which I don't understand, because I have come out quite clearly that I am in 100% support of pay equity. In fact, the agreement that we sent, the proposal that we sent to the men and women in June 2022, clearly articulates what we mean by pay equity. It means equity for the playing of games in terms of the price, the bonus structure—
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Thank you. I appreciate that. I think that indicates the problem. You don't understand.
Mr. Heffernan.
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Soccer
I think there are mixed views. There were times when we were at the World Cup where we had people celebrating the sport, when we were winning gold medals. We have people celebrating that, but at the same time I think the public also criticizes us as we continue to work on the collective bargaining agreements.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
You're right in what you just said. You have an organization. We're looking at the organizational charts and how it works. You can't be the president unless you've been on the board for a year.
Are you suggesting that should stay, Mr. Bontis? Would you have that stay?
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
Given that I'm no longer with Canada Soccer, I don't know what should stay or shouldn't stay.
I can tell you that it is a monumental task to be president of this organization, even if it is a volunteer position. I appreciate the spirit in which that rule was put in place—way before my time—which was that you probably needed some experience as a director or as a vice-president.
I can also tell you that including me, the previous president before me, Victor, and then the previous president before Victor, going back now maybe 15 years, every president was a vice-president prior. I think that's the type of succession planning that's necessary, only from an intellectual capital perspective, not from a political perspective.
I understand that the members have put in a recommendation to the governance committee to remove that stipulation, so that anybody at all who is 18 years old or older with a background check can be nominated for president of Canada Soccer starting next year.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
I think what I hear, in a sense, is like when we talked with Hockey Canada. They finally realized that if the public is going to support this board and support soccer, as we believe the grassroots people in this country do, it's time for significant change. I'm not sure people are going to believe whatever you're doing unless we have some significant change.
That agreement out there is going to be problematic for years to come. When you say you're going to try to change it, what power do you have to do that? There's no clause to renegotiate in there.
Liberal
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
I think that is a question for Canada Soccer in terms of the negotiation of the deal. That wasn't something that I was at Canada Soccer for, in terms of the negotiation of the deal you're referring to.
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Soccer
The deal was duly approved by the board of directors. In my role, I'm to respect those decisions and execute the decisions of the board of directors.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Where's the review clause that makes you think you have the power to change it?
Chief Financial Officer, Canada Soccer
As indicated in my opening comments, the three things that I thought needed to be renegotiated were the length of the term, the unilateral extension and the upside of the revenue.