The B.C. Lions at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops.
Image Credit: TWITTER/B.C. Lions
May 15, 2022 - 11:18 AM
The B.C. Lions have cancelled a practice in Kamloops that was scheduled for today as Canadian Football League players are on strike.
The Lions are one of seven football teams, including the Saskatchewan Roughriders, that cancelled practices, May 15, as players went on strike. The B.C. Lions' main training camp was scheduled for today at Hillside Stadium next to Thompson Rivers University.
In a statement issued yesterday, May 14, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said an offer was presented to the Canadian Football League Players' Association.
The team had opened their rookie training camp at Hillside Stadium earlier this week.
The union is expected to hold a town hall meeting today to provide more information on the first day of the strike, according to TSN’s Dave Naylor, via Twitter.
CFL players have been on strike just once, in 1974. That year, though, the situation was resolved prior to the start of the season.
READ MORE: CFL, CFLPA are continuing to bargain on new contact
A work stoppage could jeopardize the May 23 start of the exhibition schedule, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The regular season is set to kick off June 9 with the Montreal Alouettes in Calgary to face the Stampeders.
The league and union resumed negotiations Wednesday, six days after the CFLPA rejected the CFL's first proposal. Shortly afterwards in a memo to players, the union stated the CFL wanted to eliminate the Canadian ratio and veteran American ratio and reduce the number of Canadians.
In the current agreement, CFL rosters must include 21 Canadians, of which seven must be starters.
- With files from The Canadian Press
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