Canada Soccer has reached an interim agreement with the Canadian women’s team on compensation for 2022, though the negotiations with both the men’s and women’s teams have not yet concluded. The men’s and women’s teams have separate labor agreements that are interconnected due to the pay equity issue. In addition to pay equity, the women’s team has other grievances that require addressing. The interim deal has been approved by the women’s team and is a significant step forward in negotiations, but more work needs to be done to ensure that both national programs receive the resources and support they need to prepare and compete.
The interim funding agreement with the women is subject to change, depending on the final collective bargaining agreement. The women have concerns, including being provided with the same travel and staff preparation as the men before the upcoming World Cup. Additionally, both teams want Canada Soccer to open its books and explain why both programs are being cut in 2023, given the success of the two teams on and off the field.
Both the men’s and women’s teams have called on Canada Soccer to consult with players “on the best path forward” before the next permanent president is chosen. The players have also repeated their call for Canada Soccer to open its books and take immediate action to address the financial constraints imposed by the agreement with Canadian Soccer Business.
Parliamentary Heritage Committee hearings will take place later this month to discuss the controversial deal with Canadian Soccer Business. The committee has requested to see the agreement, in addition to Canada Soccer board minutes dating back to 2017. The women’s team is scheduled to speak on March 9, followed by Canada Soccer on March 20. In June 2021, the Canadian men refused to play a planned friendly against Panama due to dissatisfaction with the progress of labor talks, and the women briefly downed tools before the recent SheBelieves Cup, eventually playing the tournament under protest after Canada Soccer threatened them with legal action if they did not return to the field
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