Jamie Nye: CFL’s 2020 season will likely be entirely up to the federal government

Manitoba and Saskatchewan have officially put their hands up to be the CFL’s home base to help save the 2020 season.

While there are many questions still unanswered, it was a tiny bit of optimism after weeks of bad news.

A 12-week season should appease players who want to be paid at least 50 per cent of their salaries. And both markets of Winnipeg and Regina have low numbers of active COVID-19 cases.

Both plans come with money for accommodation, food, practice and free use of their city’s stadiums.

That takes away some of the overhead the league would be facing.

The players also need to sign off on a new collective bargaining agreement and the health and safety protocols.

But there is still Ottawa. Sure, the provincial governments are game, but so too was Ontario with the Toronto Blue Jays’ plans until the federal government said no.

The CFL plan not only has a questionable health strategy, but also a large monetary ask from the feds.

So temper your enthusiasm as Justin Trudeau’s government could disappoint one more time.