Independent study makes recommendations to improve Canada Soccer governance

A review of Canada Soccer's governance recommends the governing body modernize its bylaws, make changes to its board structure, improve its communication and transparency, and improve athlete involvement.

The independent review was requested in May 2023 by Pascale St-Onge, then minister of sport, and was conducted by LBB Strategies, a sports consulting firm led by sports lawyer Benoit Girardin.

The 48-page report concludes Canada Soccer "is, in general, meeting many standards and principles of good governance, even leading in some respects."

"With that being said, we also found significant gaps in [Canada Soccer's] governance's structure and culture that will require courage, innovation, openness, and willingness for change," it added.

The "critical and most urgent issue is the modernization of the membership voting structure, which will require innovation, trust, openness, and simplification," according to the report, which notes that the existing board and new CEO Kevin Blue "have made significant efforts in 2024" to modernize the organization's governance.

Canada Soccer says it will examine the report's recommendations "and determine next steps, in consultation with CONCACAF and FIFA."

The review, conducted between September 2023 and April 2024, involved more than 40 individual and eight group interviews with Canada Soccer as well as 20 "supplementary questionnaires."

"The potential risk with the president being elected by the members is the possibility of political interference or the election of a leader who doesn't necessarily possess the best skills or governance acumen to lead the board," the report says.

In examining the makeup of the current board, the report concluded there was a "good mix of diverse skills,