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.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you.
There have been questions with regard to salary and where you fly on an airplane. All these questions are technically yours and yours, alone...to have this information. I think what instigates the questions, though.... It's not necessarily that the seat number is important, but rather what it insinuates or symbolizes.
That is to say, there is this overall picture that, I believe, is being painted with regard to Canada Soccer that shows a couple of things.
One, there is this enormous elitism at the top of the organization. There is this leadership group that is out of touch with the reality of the players—in particular, the players on the women's team. There is this notion, or this understanding, that those at the top are being put before the players themselves, which is a problem. It's a problem for the players, fans and Canadians. It's a problem for the sport.
Further to that, I think the other thing being communicated to the public is that this is an organization run by men, for men. The women are not being fairly compensated. This comes down not only to equal pay but also to equal opportunity, equal treatment and equal resources. We have an organization run by an elite few, who are men. They run this organization for men, and it is to the disadvantage of the players as a whole, but in particular of the women. That's a problem.
We have a deal signed between Canada Soccer and Canadian Soccer Business. When we look at this deal, it smells fishy. I think that's where these questions come into play today. What we want to know are the terms of this deal, but there has been a refusal to be transparent about those terms.
We know a few things based on what we've heard from players and what we've seen reported in the media. We know this is a deal that was signed for 10 years. We know there's the opportunity to renew this deal for another 10 years. We know there was very little transparency and, therefore, zero accountability with regard to this deal. We're confused as to why this deal was signed, because it just doesn't make sense.
My first question is this: Mr. Bontis, did you gain in any way, personally or professionally, from signing this deal?
4:50 p.m.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
I absolutely did not gain at all in signing this deal, as a director.
I can address your other comments, if you like, at this point.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
That's okay. There was no other question, Mr. Bontis. Thank you.
My second question is, was any part of this deal signed between Canada Soccer and Canadian Soccer Business done as a favour for the founders of Canadian Soccer Business?
4:50 p.m.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
Again, Madam Chair, absolutely not. No negotiating contractual agreements are done as favours for founding members.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I will turn those same questions, then, over to Mr. Heffernan. Was any part of that deal signed as a favour towards the founders of Canada's soccer business?
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Did you have anything to gain personally or professionally from that deal being signed?
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Did anyone on the board have anything to gain from that deal, personally or professionally?
4:50 p.m.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
No, I'm not aware of anybody on the board who had anything to gain. In fact, in the minutes that were provided to your committee, you'll see there was one individual on the board who recused himself from those discussions because he was involved with another competing club.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Heffernan, this deal was signed for 10 years, with the opportunity to renew for another 10 years. Can you point me to another similar sports organization that has signed a deal like this?
4:50 p.m.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
I'm sorry. I did not sign it either.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
No, I apologize. I should be asking why the organization signed it.
4:50 p.m.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
Well, the organization supported the contract. To your question about the 10-year and 10-year aspect, there is an opportunity within the first break of the 10 years to renegotiate the guaranteed payment. That's stipulated in the contract.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
It's 10 years.
It's 10 years, so what you're saying is that actually it's basically supposed to be a 20-year deal, but we're going to give it the first 10, and maybe, somewhere in there, there might be an opportunity to have a bit of a conversation along the way. Really, the intention, then, seems to be 20 years.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Ms. Thomas, I will give leeway for an answer, but we're past the five minutes.
Go ahead.
4:50 p.m.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
The frame of reference, at least for me personally, in 2017-18, when we were negotiating the deal, was that we need a long time to actually provide resources for a league to sustain itself. Three previous men's leagues—CSL, CNSL, CPSL—historically all went belly up within that 10-year period, so—
4:55 p.m.
Conservative