What could possibly be wrong with the following statement? "It's very important to keep Canadians at the centre ... of the Canadian Football League, because it's our game. This is our league, it's been around for almost 100 years and it's very important to continue to promote Canadian players in the CFL."

The speaker was Javier Glatt, a linebacker with the B.C. Lions. And no, we can't find anything to disagree with here. It seems like plain common sense.

But apparently some owners and coaches in the CFL take a different view. There are reports the league wants to slash the number of Canadians playing in the league.

Each team is allowed a roster of 42 players. Originally, at least 10 of those had to be homegrown. That might not seem like much of a requirement, from an organization whose logo assures Canadians "This is our league."

But that minimum was whittled down to seven a few years ago and now there is talk about cutting it back to just four.

The issue, supposedly, is quality. American players have an advantage, both in training and the level of competition. Forcing teams to play Canadians, so the argument goes, results in an inferior product.

Proponents claim they are simply levelling the playing field. If local kids are good enough, they'll get their chance, without the need for a quota. There is nothing to prevent teams signing as many Canadians as they wish.

Opponents are not so sure. They point out that the CFL is already heavily dominated by American influences. Most of the league's head coaches were born and trained in the U.S. So were all the quarterbacks and the vast majority of players in glamour positions, like running backs and receivers.

The collective voice of this U.S. contingent carries weight among league officials -- perhaps too much weight. Most of the pressure to reduce the Canadian content appears to come from our American guests.

While this might sound complicated, on one level it is really quite simple. Either we want a Canadian football league, or we don't. The U.S. already has a league of its own. Anyone who wants can watch the NFL four days a week on TV.

For the CFL to thrive in the shadows of such a dominant competitor, the league must retain its own distinctive identity. The game is different -- a smaller field, three downs -- but fielding Canadian players is important.

Professional sports teams depend heavily on their farm system. Right now, football is flourishing at universities across our country.

The result can be seen in the fine crop of young players joining the league. But take away the assurance that at least some of these kids can play professional ball and the college game will suffer.

The Americanization of Canadian football poses another threat. The NFL would like to expand into the Toronto area one day. The league has already played four exhibition games at the SkyDome, and more are planned.

An expansion franchise would likely kill the CFL teams in Toronto and Hamilton. But no one south of the border is going to care. So long as the Canadian game is merely a branch plant, there is no harm raiding its markets.

In 1974, when the World Football League wanted a team in Toronto, Pierre Trudeau threatened to ban the move by act of Parliament. The proposal collapsed.

This afternoon's Grey Cup may offer a different kind of rebuttal. When Montreal and Saskatchewan take the field before a sold-out crowd, some of the best players will be homegrown. There are great young Canadians on both sides of the ball.

If the CFL wants to improve, the best thing league owners could do is bring in more local talent, not less.