Liberal MP wants to expedite having Canada Soccer before parliamentary committee

It appears Canada Soccer may soon join Hockey Canada in coming under the scrutiny of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather says the parliamentary committee has already requested the minutes of Canada Soccer's board and wants to question the governing body in a future meeting. And while Canada Soccer was one of several governing bodies the committee had already planned to examine, Housefather says it should be moved "to the top of the list" given the ongoing labour impasse with the men's and women's national soccer teams.

The Canadian women briefly went on strike over the weekend before being forced back onto the pitch by their governing body.

While Housefather, who represents the Quebec riding of Mount Royal, said while he does not want to prejudge the situation, "it would be good for Canadians to have us help get to the bottom of it."

The Canadian women boycotted practice Saturday in Orlando and said they would not take part in the SheBelieves Cup until their grievances were addressed. But they reluctantly returned to training Sunday after Canada Soccer threatened them with legal action if they did not end their job action.

Canada Soccer said the players "were not and are not in a legal strike position under Ontario labour law." The women said they would play the SheBelieves Cup under protest.

The four-country tournament kicks off Thursday with the Olympic champion Canadians, ranked sixth in the world, taking on the top-ranked Americans.

The Canadian women are demanding the same backing in preparing for this summer's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand that the men received last year before Qatar. And they want Canada Soccer to open its books.

In 2021, Canada Soccer spent