Soccer Canada president Nick Bontis has resigned, saying a change in management is needed to restore a peaceful work environment.
The national federation is mired in a union war with its national teams, both male and female. Bontis believes that Soccer Canada has the opportunity to sign what he calls a “historic collective agreement”, but that change is needed.
Bontis’ decision came as a letter signed by all 13 provincial and territorial federations demanding his departure was sent to the national federation. Bontis resigned during a board meeting, Soccer Canada reported.
“Canada Soccer and our national team programs are in the process of signing a historic collective agreement. Once this deal is done, it will be a landmark deal that will set our country apart from virtually all other FIFA member associations,” Bontis said in a statement.
“While I have been one of the biggest advocates for equalizing the competitive performance environment for our National Women’s Team, unfortunately I will no longer be leading this organization when that happens. I recognize that the current environment requires change. »
The two national teams had also asked for changes at the head of Soccer Canada.
Earlier this month, members of the men’s team asked Federal Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge to make changes to the federation’s leadership “if she does not want to immediately address concerns and to player requests.
“If Soccer Canada is unable to support our team, a new management must be put in place,” added the members of the women’s team.
Bontis had set things on fire by declaring last summer Soccer Canada wanted a “discussion based on facts in the fiscal reality that Soccer Canada must manage on a daily basis”.
A pay equity advocate, Bontis said the demands of the men’s team were “unsustainable”.
Bontis had also supported the federation’s controversial agreement with Canadian Soccer Business (CSB). Both men and women then demanded the opening of the federation’s accounting books, in particular to see the agreements signed with CSB for the sponsorship and retransmission of national team matches. CSB pays a fixed annual amount to the federation and keeps the rest to help fund the Canadian Premier League.
The women want the same support on the eve of the World Cup, presented this summer in Australia and New Zealand, that the men received before that disputed in Qatar last fall. The two formations also want to have explanations about the cuts made to their programs in 2023.
The standoff led to the men’s boycott of a friendly against Panama, scheduled for Vancouver last June. The women ran out of time to strike ahead of the SheBelieves Cup, returning in protest to the pitch after the federation threatened to take legal action.
Bontis was elected president in November 2020, succeeding Steven Reed. His resignation is immediate. In addition to his duties with Soccer Canada, he is Chair of Strategic Management at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.
He has been a member of Soccer Canada’s Board of Directors since 2012. He has held several roles, including Vice-President and Chair of the Strategic Management Committee.
Bontis was in transit from Guatemala on Monday, where he was named CONCACAF vice-chairman for North America on Saturday.
His decision to resign from his post at Soccer Canada in no way affects his position at the continental confederation, which are unrelated, a CONCACAF spokesperson has confirmed.