Sport minister imposes new conditions on Canada Soccer's funding

The federal sports minister has told Canada Soccer the government is attaching new strings to the sports organization's federal funding going forward, CBC News has learned.

Sport Minister Pascale-St Onge sent the soccer organization a letter on Tuesday saying she shares concerns about the organization's "lack of financial transparency" and ongoing labour disputes.

St-Onge said Canada Soccer must undergo a financial audit and a governance review and must accept advice from an external advisory group in order to continue receiving federal funding.

"We expect Canada Soccer to make the necessary changes to address equality between its national team programs as soon as possible," St-Onge wrote in the letter sent to Canada Soccer and obtained by CBC News. 

"Canadians expect to see greater transparency with respect to how Canada Soccer is allocating funds between its men's and women's programs, including the negotiating of business contracts and broadcasting agreements."

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The new requirements for Canada Soccer come after months of turmoil at the top of the sport's governing body. Labour disputes this year led to the organization's president Nick Bontis and general secretary Earl Cochrane stepping down. 

Four Olympic soccer champions on the women's team went before a parliamentary committee in March to talk about their battle with Canada Soccer for equal treatment and pay. They described being treated like second-class players by their own organization. 

Team captain Christine Sinclair cited a "culture of secrecy and obstruction" at Canada Soccer and said players don't know how the money is coming in or going out.

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In her letter to Canada Soccer, St-Onge said the organization's governance review must be conducted by a third party and must look into its transparency, financial decision-making and governance structures.

The federal government gave the soccer organization $5 million in the fiscal year ending in December 2022, according to Canada Soccer's latest audited financial statement.

The government wants to commission an independent audit of Canada Soccer's finances covering the period from March 1, 2017 to March 31, 2023.

"This audit will aim to confirm that the funding from the government has been allocated appropriately and in compliance with the terms and conditions of your contribution agreements," St-Onge wrote in the letter to Canada Soccer's interim secretary general Jason de Vos.