Last week BC Senator Larry Campbell (a former Vancouver mayor and made even more famous, by Nicholas Campbell's loose interpretation as a Vancouver coroner on Da Vinci's Inquest and the subsequent Da Vinci's City hall) weighed into the debate over any NFL incursion into Canada.
Campbell's contribution was the introduction of legislation for the Canadian Senate, S-238, the Canadian Football Act. A wide ranging bit of political theatre that could, if it ever sees the sunshine outside of the Canadian Senate, send offending football executives off to jail for crossing the border and swashbuckling their games onto Canadian soil. Exhibition games not included goes the rider we suspect.
The NFL had no particular comment on the shot across their might bow, though perhaps they've been given a heads up as to the actual success rate of Senate initiatives of late (even more so those that are lone wolf offerings) and more importantly are aware that unless Canada's numerous free trade regulations are all overthrown, there's little basis for the bill in the current Canadian political setting.
What Campbell's bill has done has made him a rather unpopular person with a segment of Toronto society who have counselled him in any number of ways as to what he may wish to do with his bill, should his attempts slow down the march of those other Bills...
There are a number of background pieces on Senator Campbell's version of speak loudly and carry a really big stick policy planning, though many suspect that while the NFL may never actually set up in Canada on a full time basis it most likely won't be thanks to the efforts of the Senator from British Columbia.
And while we would prefer to see the CFL live a long and prosperous life, we don't think that this legislation is going to do much more than frame the debate over Canadian football and it's importance to the Canadian fabric.
In fact, we suspect that the Senate will more than likely be extinct long before the CFL, with or without Senator Campbell's efforts. Though at least with Canadian football fans, there will always be a warm spot on the bench for Senator Campbell, apparently the meanest ole Defensive player that CFL may have ever seen and one willing to go on the offence when the need arrives.
National Post-- Play ball with three downs, or go to jail
National Post-- A cultural icon at stake
National Post-- When two leagues collide
National Post-- Will Toronto land an NFL franchise?
National Post-- The CFL's homegrown saviours
National Post-- Ban NFL season games in Canada: Bill
Globe and Mail-- Senator tables bill aimed at protecting CFL
Calgary Herald-- Bill won't save CFL from Bills
Saskatoon Star Phoenix-- Senator comes to CFL's defence
CBC Sports-- B.C. senator seeks ban on NFL relocation to Canada
Eye Weekly-- Protectionist Fumbling BC
On line petition in support of Campbell's initiative (245 er, strong? as of June 16)
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