(Quebec) The Quebec government will not pay for meals or alcohol for Los Angeles Kings players who will play two preparatory games in Quebec this fall.
The leader of the official opposition, Marc Tanguay, was able to obtain this guarantee on Tuesday, during the study of the budgetary appropriations of the Treasury Board, Capitale-Nationale component.
He asked that we dissect the subsidy agreement of 5 to 7 million signed on September 9, 2023 between the government of Quebec, Quebecor and the Kings for the team’s arrival at the Videotron Center.
“Are you going to ensure that Quebecers will not pay to reimburse alcohol, particularly bottles of wine? Are you going to make sure, or is it possible that we will pay for it? » Mr. Tanguay wanted to know.
The associate secretary in charge of the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale, Youri Rousseau, began by saying that “any expense of any nature whatsoever related to the organization and presentation of the event” would be reimbursed.
“It’s very, very broad,” worried Mr. Tanguay, inviting Mr. Rousseau to be more precise. A backbench CAQ MP, Mario Asselin, then intervened to oppose the questions from the interim Liberal leader.
Mr. Rousseau finally revealed that the agreement does not provide for reimbursement of players’ personal expenses, such as meals and alcohol.
“Quebecor will cover the costs related to the presentation of events and the Los Angeles Kings will be responsible for the expenses incurred for the teams, meal costs, personal expenses, etc. “, he explained.
“So these are expenses that will not be covered in our aid. »
Without knowing it, Mr. Rousseau had just revealed part of the agreement which had until then been kept confidential by those responsible for access to information.
“We lifted the corner of the sheet a little,” rejoiced Mr. Tanguay. I thank the Deputy Minister for disclosing information that had previously been redacted. »
2.5 million already paid to Quebecor
During the discussions, Mr. Rousseau also revealed that 2.5 million have already been paid to the Quebecor Sport et Divertissement group since the signing of the agreement.
Another 2.5 million will be paid to the company 30 days before the event.
To ensure that Quebecor does not suffer losses, the government has committed to paying it up to an additional 2 million after the event, if it is in deficit.
If no losses are incurred, thanks in particular to ticketing and parking revenues, “Quebecor could be called upon to reimburse” certain sums, declared Mr. Rousseau.
The announcement of this government subsidy caused a stir last fall, when the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, affirmed that public finances were “tight” in a context of negotiations with the public sector.
The subsidy – granted to bring in a multimillion-dollar hockey team, it was pointed out – became a symbol of the government’s disconnection during these negotiations.
From October 2 to 8, Quebec will host the Los Angeles Kings training camp and two exhibition games with the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers.