In December 1968, John Munro, the Minister of Health and Welfare, stated a federal task force was looking into establishing such a corporation, and Dawson felt that the government was taking credit for something which the CAHA had proposed. Dawson later suggested disbanding the national team program as it would not be financially viable without an annual $100,000 grant from the government. Munro announced a $200,000 contribution for operation of the national team in 1969. Dawson arranged for the Soviet Union national ice hockey team to tour Canada in January 1969, but his relationship became strained with what he called "childish problems" by the Soviets. Frustrations grew when they arrived late for the first scheduled game on the tour which negated profits for the CAHA, and Dawson was reported as wanting to see discipline handed out by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) against the Soviets. President First term Dawson succeeded Lloyd Pollock as president at the CAHA executive meeting on January 27, 1969. When the transfer of control of the Canada men's national ice hockey team from the CAHA to Hockey Canada became imminent, Dawson sought a clear definition of the CAHA's responsibilities and did not want to compromise its authority over amateur hockey in Canada nor its membership within the IIHF. He also wanted to ensure that all players in Canada to had the opportunity to play on the national team. The Hockey Canada board of governors was formed on February 24, 1969, with Dawson and Gordon Juckes named to represent the CAHA. Dawson increased the number of annual executive meetings from two to three due to disagreements with National Hockey League (NHL) and increasing dissent from branches of the CAHA. Team owners in Western Canada were upset with the existing professional-amateur agreement between the CAHA and the NHL signed in 1968 and in effect until 1972. It stipulated the age limit in junior hockey at 20 years old before players would become the property of professional teams. The NHL declined to alter the age limit despite continued requests by Dawson and the CAHA. Dawson and the CAHA were also opposed to potential expansion into Canada by the American Hockey League, and asked NHL president Clarence Campbell to follow-up on press reports of rumoured farm teams in Montreal, Ottawa and Kingston. Junior teams in Western Canada claimed that the lower age limit decreased its talent pool and negatively