Three Canadian Football League groups cancel training-camp practices amidst CBA stalemate

TORONTO — Three Canadian Football League groups canceled their opening training-camp practices Sunday, a day after the league and gamers’ union broke off settlements on a brand-new cumulative bargaining contract.

The Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts canceled practices, with more groups anticipated to do the same.

The previous CBA ended at midnight, with the CFL Players’ Association directing gamers from 7 of the 9 groups to take part in a work interruption starting at 12:01 a.m. EDT Sunday. Players with the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders reported to their camps since they will not remain in a legal strike position under Alberta laws till later on this month.

“We shouldn’t be out here right now,” Stampeders linebacker Jameer Thurman stated. “The rest of the league’s on strike. We voted to be on strike as well, but the Alberta laws are a little bit different, so we’re required to be out here, but we stand with the PA and everything. Hopefully, we can get this resolved and get back to playing football.”

The only previous CFL strike can be found in 1974 and was dealt with prior to the start of the season.