A FIRST STEP IN TRANSPARENCY!

by Pierre Filion  pierrefilion@bell.net

Lacrosse Canada has very discretely posted, for a short period of time, the 2025-26 budget on its website; not easy to find nor announced in a public post. Let’s acknowledge the fact that Lacrosse Canada seemed to indicate some type of a discrete first step in transparency. Nothing to write home about but still a discrete first step. Bravo!

The problem is that the budget has been deleted from the website! Short first step into transparency.

Some will obviously say that a budget is of no interest for most of the members and all they really care about is where and when they can play the A FIRST STEP IN TRANSPARENCY!!!

game they love. Especially since 76% of the membership is under 17 years old!

But wait a minute and consider that Lacrosse Canada has clearly indicated in its mission statement that is aims ‘’to ignite a nationwide passion for the game cultivating a vibrant and inclusive community that engages participants of all ages, abilities and backgrounds’’. It has also indicated in its values that’’we operate with integrity and transparency accepting responsibility for outcomes and results’’.

On this day no one is questioning Lacrosse Canada’s integrity. But its transparency, yes, clearly and with redundance. I repeat; with redundance. The 2025-26 budget is a case in point.

Let’s have a look at it as we have concerns.

First concern; the budget has been approved by the Board of Directors in December 2024. We need to know who is the Association’s treasurer? Who is the Board member, elected by the members, to ascertain that their monies are well taken care of and that the reports and financial management meet with integrity and transparency. Every democratic association has a treasurer. The question to Lacrosse Canada is: who is Lacrosse Canada’s treasurer. The Association’s website does not inform the paying members of that fact and responsibility.

Second concern: the 2025-26 is a balanced budget; 2,426,884$ in income and the same amount in expenses. In today’s world many would applaud this exercise in balancing the budget. That is until a question is asked. Is there anything in the law for non-profit associations that forbids associations to declare a surplus that they would invest in the future and in the development of the association (or of the game). The answer is no.

 Lacrosse Canada can create and declare a surplus. It has chosen not to do so and to produce a short term ‘’here and now’’ budget limiting its net asset to what it is now (1,127,137$ as of June 30^th 2024). An association’s net asset is the sign of its financial worth and autonomy and an indication of its willingness and interest in fostering some type of growth. Many treasurers will tell you that they appreciate a surplus because so many people come forward with ideas and suggestions on how to spend the surplus while, when a deficit is declared, no one steps up to suggest that the paying members pump in more money to erase the deficit. The question to Lacrosse Canada is: with a positive vision for the future why has Lacrosse Canada elected for a balanced budget and discretely shied away from declaring a surplus to invest in the development of the game? The paying members need to know that.

Third concern; the grants from Sport Canada have increased significantly; in 2024 the grant was 585,740$; in 2025-26 the expected grant will be of 1,094,090$. It would be appreciated if Lacrosse Canada shared with its paying members what the Association has done to ‘’deserve’’ such an increase in grants coming, as we all know, from Canadian taxpayers. It would be educational and motivating if Lacrosse Canada would make the budget easier to digest by informing the paying members of the positive steps which have been taken by the Association to profit from Sport Canada’s grants. The question to Lacrosse Canada is: when will the paying members be informed of the criteria for funding and of LC’s successes in that domain?

Fourth concern; the paying members should be made aware that their contributions to Lacrosse Canada amount to 1,204,305$, which is 49.6% of the budget. The paying members generate revenues in membership fees, national championships, transfer fees, clinics and meetings. They also know that tax paying Canadians generate 45% of Lacrosse Canada’s revenues through national grants. 91.6% of the revenues come from Canadians. The rest (8.4% of the income) comes from Lacrosse Canada’s own positive actions (sales, sponsors and National Teams). The question to Lacrosse Canada is; when will this information be circulated to the paying members so they know who really supports the National Association. Having that information the paying members might feel that they are already the ‘’vibrant community’’ that Lacrosse Canada dreams of.

Fifth concern; Lacrosse Canada indicates income of 60,000$ from National Team programs; it also indicates, on one single line, an expenditure of 1,078,085$ for the same National Teams. There is a ‘’slight’’ discrepancy here, is there not; this needs to be explained to the paying members who might ask why the National Team revenues of 2023 were 220,268$ and those of 2024 were 213,381$ while in 2025-26 they will only be of 60,000$. They also might be excited when they remember that National Teams expenses were 700,190$ in 2023 and 498,357$ in 2024. 1,078,085$ in 2025-26…We all appreciate that a budget is a budget and that numbers are numbers but putting forward some type of explanation to the paying members would be a great sign of respect and surely another first step in transparency. The question to Lacrosse Canada is: put your mouth where your money is and explain what is going on with the National Teams finances.

Sixth concern; in 2023 and 2024 Lacrosse Canada reported income of 1000$ in sponsorship. In 2025-26 a fully vibrant association foresees income of 104,500$ in sponsorship. From 1000$ to 104,500$; from a jack to a king! Clearly, in respect towards the membership, Lacrosse Canada must explain what justifies this vibrant enthusiasm. Yes, LC now has a fulltime director of sponsorship while in the past that delicate task was handled by a volunteer Board member. But the real question facing Lacrosse Canada is: what can the National Association really offer to a sponsor? Lacrosse Canada has zero tradition in sponsorship and controls none of its significant events (national championships, NCCP and NOCP clinics) and has a non-commercially significant membership.

Consider that 76% of the membership (38,054) are minors under 17 years old and that only 4,982 are over 21 and that gives everyone a clear indication of the limits that one can expect from a search for a national or even a regional sponsor.

Consider that 79.6% of the registered players are from 3 provinces only will render the search for national sponsorship limited and maybe even fruitless.

Consider that the 2028 Olympic Games will feature Sixes and that LC, in 2024, had only 1108 registered participants playing Sixes lacrosse across Canada.

Consider that there are only 3316 women who play lacrosse in Canada and that 79,2% of them are from 2 provinces; the number of women who play box lacrosse is not published by Lacrosse Canada; will that turn on a national sponsor?

Consider that lacrosse is a great game in full flight and you’ll get a childish perspective on the association’s ability to collect 104,500$ in sponsorship in 2025-26.

The only ‘’thing’’ that Lacrosse Canada controls is the National Teams who exist only for a short period of time in mushroom events to be held in Asia in 2025-2026 and 2027.

The bottom line is that the 2025-26 budget raises important concerns that the Board of Directors must address; it also raises questions that the Board must answer if it aims at traveling towards a decent transparency and a clear respect for the paying members. Once again, the ball is in Lacrosse Canada’s court.