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.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
Yes, that is correct.
I received a message from the chairman of the presidents' forum. I contacted him with the general secretary. They requested my resignation. I asked them if it was possible to have a meeting to explain myself, or to get further clarification on the reasons for the request. They declined that request. I then contacted my board and tendered my resignation.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
What was the issue with the provincial associations, so that from the meeting that you had here in Ottawa they asked you to leave?
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
I don't know. I asked them for an explanation. I wanted to set up a Zoom call and made an explicit request to set up a Zoom call either later that evening or the following night, to speak to the presidents.
The last time I had spoken to them was two weeks prior. I had instituted a policy whereby I had a bimonthly Zoom call with all of the provincial presidents, to discuss all the issues at hand with them and a senior staff member. We had one scheduled two weeks prior.
There was no mention at all in that meeting two weeks prior that there was going to be an issue with regard to my tenure.
Again, I found out that morning, and I tendered my resignation.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Are you saying they ganged up on you?
This is strange. You come to Ottawa for a meeting, and all the sport organizations—not just one, but all the provincial bodies—demand that you leave. There had to be something beforehand that triggered this. Tell us about it.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
I was not in Ottawa. I was away supporting our U-17 boys' team in Guatemala.
I found out about the request for resignation while I was still in Guatemala. I flew home later that evening, after I tendered my resignation that day.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
I talked to several sport organizations in this country—it's $9 for each player that goes to registration to Canada Soccer—and they obviously feel that moneywise there is an issue with Canada Soccer, not only with Canadian Soccer Business. You don't just walk into a meeting here, everybody flies to Ottawa and then a day later they're looking for a new president.
There must be some things underlying it in the grassroots, because this is where what terminated your contract with Canada Soccer started.
Can you shed any light on this?
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
No. I'm not aware, as I said before. I asked for reasons. I wanted an explicit opportunity both to actually have them explain it to me, and for me to explain where we were in addition to my presidency. I was not afforded that opportunity.
At that point, I tendered my resignation.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
You were president under tumultuous times. We had great times in soccer, thanks to the women's program winning gold in Tokyo and the men qualifying for the World Cup, yet those two teams in particular are more upset with Canada Soccer than ever before. The men's team didn't want to take to the field in Vancouver. The women's team didn't want to take to the field in the United States.
Instead of the grassroots kicking you out, we also have it from the top down. What is the problem with Canada Soccer and the national teams?
I know Mr. Heffernan started talking about negotiations that are coming up to two years now, which is not a good situation. Soccer is going to become, if it hasn't already, the number one sport in this country, yet the turmoil in the board has never been so toxic as we're seeing it. Why is that?
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
I was elected president during a global pandemic. It was a perfect storm. There was no soccer being played in this country at the grassroots level. Even our national teams had to go through World Cup qualification and tournaments. We were forced, because of the health policies in this country, to actually play our home games for World Cup qualification in the U.S., in Chicago and Florida. We had no fans. We had no opportunity to make revenue on those games.
The one thing I want to clarify that I was explicit on from day one of my presidency was that I would not move forward with any new agreement unless it had pay equity baked in, and I communicated that to the leaders of the women's national team, the four women you saw. In addition to their legal counsel, I had a Zoom call with them and through the general secretary I said to them that I was going to support pay equity.
Several months later, in June, as you've pointed out, I met with the men's players prior to the scheduled Panama match. I communicated with them also that I was 100% only going to support a deal that had pay equity baked in. The decision for them to boycott that match was theirs. I don't know what the reasons were, but I've maintained that position. We continued our negotiations throughout the summer. We continued our negotiations through the fall and winter—
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Well, you're no longer involved, so you didn't continue that.
Former President, Canada Soccer, As an Individual
That's correct: I meant through the summer and the winter. I am no longer involved. I resigned a month ago, but my understanding through Sean Heffernan's statement is that he is now leading the charge to provide them with all the information they require.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
We now go to the Liberals and Anthony Housefather for six minutes, please.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and thank you, gentlemen, for being here today. It's appreciated.
Mr. Bontis, I'm very sorry about what you've gone through recently. Thank you for your fulsome apology to Christine Sinclair. I think it was very genuine, and I want to thank you for that.
I'm going to start with some questions about your opening statements.
First of all, you, Mr. Bontis, and you, Mr. Montagliani, both mentioned your volunteerism. Thank you for your many years of volunteer service.
Mr. Montagliani, how much money did you earn from Concacaf and FIFA in the last year?
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
At Concacaf, we have a very rigorous compensation committee—
Liberal
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
Yes, I'm explaining to you first the process—
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I don't want you to explain. I want a ballpark number, please.
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
You asked me a question. I'm more than happy to discuss that.
We have a policy at Concacaf. We have an independent committee that—
Liberal
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
I'm describing that.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I don't care about your description. I want the number, please. I think everybody here is aware that you can describe how you're compensated. I didn't ask that question. I asked how much money you earned from Concacaf and FIFA in the last year.
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
We have a policy at Concacaf—
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Madam Chair, I would ask you to instruct the witness to kindly answer the question.
President, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, As an Individual
I am answering the question.