Melbourne, Australia –
Carla Qualtrough, recently appointed Canada’s sports minister, voiced her support for the national team’s fight for equal pay and support as she visited a training camp in Melbourne ahead of Monday’s crucial Women’s World Cup game against Australia.
“You’ll never hear me say anything other than ‘Justice equals pay for work of equal value,'” Qualtrough said. “Our women deserve the same opportunities as our men, and we will ensure they have them.”
To secure a place in the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup, Canada must avoid defeat against co-host Australia in the final game of the group stage.
The visit from Qualtrough, who started her post on Wednesday, follows the team releasing a social media statement on Friday announcing a tentative agreement with Canada Soccer. The deal covers players’ compensation for 2023, including prize money for the Women’s World Cup.
“The women really want equal treatment,” Qualtrough said. “I’m confident we’ll get there, but we all have to keep going.”
The Olympic champions have been trying to negotiate an equal pay agreement for more than a year. In their statement, they expressed their “disappointment” with the tentative deal.
“It was nice to hear a message from home about the inspiration we provide,” Canadian midfielder Jessie Fleming said of Qualtrough’s visit.
Qualtrough said the interim agreement was a “very good first step,” but added that she was hesitant to respond because of ongoing discussions between Canada Soccer and the players.
Qualtrough, a former Paralympic swimmer, said she plans to meet with Canada Soccer officials and “take a hard look at some of the issues she has been watching from the sidelines.”
“I support women 110 percent,” she said.
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Savannah Hernandez is a student at the Carmical Sports Media Institute at the University of Georgia
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