Canadian Football League Players' Association

The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (“C.F.L.P.A.”) was established in 1965 and has since that time represented the professional football players in the Canadian Football League (‘C.F.L.”) with the objective of establishing fair and reasonable working conditions for the players. Much of what players take for granted today has been earned through hard-fought negotiations with the C.F.L.

Prior to the C.F.L.P.A. forming in 1965, professional football players in Canada had little protection or benefits. Injured players were often released while under contract, medical benefits were poor, there was no pension plan, player contracts were not standard across the C.F.L. and pre-season and post-season compensation was non-existent. Coaches and management could, in effect, do what they wanted, when they wanted, any time they wanted. Only the “star” players had any power.