FORWARD to your MP for Support!

[ruff2000]

hey there,

I drafted up a letter that you can forward to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (which the ministry of sport is now under) and the Secretary of State for sport (email addresses are: verner.j@parl.gc.ca; guergis.h@parl.gc.ca) and to your MP (you can enter your postal code in this URL: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E )

This is the letter that i drafted and sent.. FEEL FREE to change it up according to your own views!! and FEEL FREE to send it to your local newspapers!!

I know alot of ppl are doubting it would make a difference but it is all about raising awareness and I think that's the least thing we can is let our MPs know. Besides there is an upcoming election, we can use the leverage of minority goverment to push for our Canadian heroes!!

Dear Honorable Minister Josee Verner (Minister of Canadian Heritage) and Honorable Helena Guergis (Secretary of State for Sport),

I am a constituent in the Greater Vancouver area. Canada has a mosaic of cultural backgrounds and soccer is an event where alot of new Canadian immigrants can relate to. I have recently caught onto the story of a Canadian soccer player named Julian De Guzman. He is the first Canadian to play in the top soccer leagues in the world such as the La Liga in Spain. He is also the first Canadian to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the 2007 Gold Cup Tournament. The background to this individual is that he gave up everything he had in Canada when he was 16 to try and make it in the big leagues in Europe. Now, he is a recognizable face in Spanish soccer and he is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever play for Canada. I have attempted to buy a Canadian soccer jersey online with his name imprinted on it to no avail. It seems to me that there is something wrong with the management of Canadian soccer and it drove me further to find what the root of this problem is.

Soccer is one of the most participated sports throughout Canada and, according to the Canada Soccer Official Website (link = http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/docs/2005_demographics.pdf), there are approximately 841,000 registered players in Canada. A majority of the Canadian Men's National Team ply their skills abroad. During qualification periods, these players fly fifteen hours across the Atlantic to partake in their ambitions to bring Canada to the World Cup. They are just like yourself and other Members of Parliament who leave Ottawa to their respective riding on a Thursday evening and return to the capital on the Sunday evening. These are the things that most people do not realize that politicians do give up a lot of their personal life for the sacrifice of their nation and these soccer players are no different. Along with these strenuous hours, the Canadian soccer players are often let down by the lack of support they get by the government. Soccer has gained momentum again this current and past year due to the creation of Toronto FC, who plays in the top flight of soccer in North America. However, these ambitions are mostly privately funded and there is much to learn especially since the new BMO Field in Toronto is played on an artificial turf. Many ambitious Canadian soccer players go abroad to challenge themselves at a higher level of competition and play on a grass surface, which is the international standard for soccer. I am disappointed that Canada is behind in so many aspects on such an international sport where there are many participants willing to sacrifice their time and efforts to put Canadian soccer on the map. I do hope the Honorable Minister will look at the situation and push forward in the advancements at the pleading of the Men's National Soccer team to put a grass surface at the BMO Field in Toronto so there is actually a real home for Canadian soccer. (link = The Star "http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/417658"; The Ottawa Citizen "http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=843c94a3-16d8-45fb-a10c-8c73fceb3fea")

Furthermore, I do find it very hypocritical for Canada to say that they encourage sports participation especially when we cannot even have an opportunity to buy a jersey supporting our national team. I was googling to see how I was able to buy a Long Sleeve Jersey for Julian De Guzman in support of their valiant and unsung efforts of bringing our nation to the 2010 World Cup and I came across this link on The Voyageurs forum, where Canadian soccer fans nationwide decided to take it upon themselves to make jerseys on their own (link = "http://www.canadian-soccer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17083&SearchTerms=jersey"). It is absolutely devastating to Canadian soccer to see so much desire from the average Canadian and see the CSA and government standing idly by. Now, on the eve of Canada's second World Cup qualifying match in Montreal, I do hope that Canada will take the time to recognize the efforts of Canadians who give up many personal hours just like politicans do in contributing to the advancement of an "invisible but yet visible" sport.

Thanks and best regards,

Daniel