CFL commissioner says Quebec City has emerged as leading contender for expansion

CALGARY — CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston took the cautious approach Friday regarding the league expanding into Quebec City.

Johnston admitted he’s been to Quebec City, had discussions with a potential ownership group there and toured where a football team might play. But all he would say during his second state of the league address was that Quebec City had emerged as a leading candidate for an expansion franchise.

“We have been engaged with very productive conversations with a local ownership group in Quebec City,” Johnston told reporters. “We are encouraged by those, and we can say that Quebec City has emerged as the leading contender for the 10th franchise in the CFL.

“There is still a lot of work to do, and when there’s something more to report, we’ll hand it over to you (media). I think we need to do our due diligence; this is a step-by-step process. I want to make sure the sequence of events is correct.”

Johnston declined to identify the head of the ownership group, although real estate developer William Trudel has spoken to Quebec media about his interest in a CFL expansion club. And Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand has voiced his support of the project.

Johnston wouldn’t say if, or when, a Quebec City franchise might be up and running.

“I’ll just remind you we’ve not announced a 10th team, so no target dates,” Johnston said. “Having said that, what makes that market so attractive is the culture of football is incredibly strong, the population growth is positive, and the economic industry in that region is positive.

“And certainly we’ve seen that the mayor is all in support. These are very good signs of momentum, but we’re not there yet.”

However, Johnston gushed about the merits of Quebec City becoming a CFL city.

“That is such an incredible market,” he said. “When we think of the regional rivalry that a team there could develop with the (Montreal) Alouettes, that would be spectacular.

“We know that Quebec City can handle big events. It’s an outstanding market; it’s an outstanding football market.”

A new stadium would need to be built for a Quebec franchise. But Johnston was open to Telus Stadium — home of the Laval Rouge et Or — or other university venues serving as temporary sites while a permanent facility was being constructed.

“In general, there are some university stadiums that could be available for an expansion franchise to play in,” he said. “I don’t think any one of them, including at Laval, could be a permanent option.

“Maybe an introductory option, whether it’s Laval or anywhere else across the country, while a better facility or appropriate facility is built. Perhaps.”

The CFL has long sought a 10th franchise, but Johnston said the league is also talking to other Canadian markets. Johnston initially declined to comment when asked about Halifax — a city long championed as the league’s 10th franchise by former commissioner Randy Ambrosie — but said it remains on the league’s radar.

“We’ve seen with Touchdown Atlantic the success we can have there,” Johnston said. “So certainly our interest in that region has not waned simply because we’re discussing other markets.”

MOVING THE GOALPOSTS IN 2027

The Grey Cup game Sunday between the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Elks will signify the end of an era for the CFL. It will mark the last CFL game played on a 150-yard field (110-yard playing surface, 20-yard end zones) with goalposts on the goal line.

Starting next season, CFL fields will be reduced to 100 yards between the goal lines, with 15-yard end zones. And the goalposts will move to the back of the reconfigured end zones.

“We have full expectation that all nine clubs are going to have fields that reflect the guidelines of our expectations for 2027,” Johnston said. “We’re in discussions with all of those clubs and progress is being made.”

What’s more, the 2027 regular season will open on the Victoria Day weekend — this year’s schedule began June 4 — meaning rookie and training camps will begin in late April and the CFL draft will be held roughly two weeks earlier than normal.

The Grey Cup will be played Nov. 7 — the earliest in league history — in Regina.

And the path to the Grey Cup will be different as eight of the league’s nine teams will qualify for post-season play. This year, just the top six clubs made the playoffs.

Johnston faced stiff fan backlash when he unveiled the changes early in his first year on the job. He was severely criticized by many for trying to Americanize the Canadian game, although Johnston said the reason for moving the goalposts back was to allow for more touchdowns to be scored.

“This is, absolutely, at its core, a Canadian game,” he said. “This three downs, 12 players, a wide field, unlimited motion, it’s all of those things.

“I’ll also say 90 per cent of feedback I get when I get recognized on the street, at the airport, is enthusiastic; it’s positive. They love the direction we’re going. They can see we aren’t going to be changing what makes the Canadian game so special. We’re modernizing it so we can grow into the future.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press