Prime Minister François Legault said Thursday that he is still carried by the dream of a return of the Nordiques, while denying himself to be in reconquest mode in the Beauce and Quebec regions, where he was on tour.
Asked about the prospects offered by the situation of the Arizona Coyotes, who want a new amphitheater, Mr. Legault confided that he continues to hope.
“You know that I dream of seeing the Nordiques again,” he said at a press briefing. I personally told Gary Bettman so he is very aware. »
Legault said he spoke to National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman at the funeral of former Montreal Canadiens player Guy Lafleur a year ago. Its finance minister, Eric Girard, had previously met with Mr. Bettman.
“I saw him at Guy Lafleur’s funeral and told him in person,” he said. Eric Girard went to see him at his offices to tell him. He knows very well that we are open to a project. »
In January 2022, the NHL said it did not see any opening for the moment for a possible return of the Nordiques. The rejection of an amphitheater project for the Coyotes has revived speculation this week.
Mr. Legault did not rule out the possibility of other companies joining Quebecor, which manages the amphitheater in Quebec, for a plan to bring back a hockey team.
“It could be Quebecor with other private investors and there are other business people who are interested in investing in a team like the Nordiques in Quebec,” he said.
A gift “
Mr. Legault denied being in reconquest mode, Thursday, during a visit to Saint-Georges de Beauce and then in the evening at a gala of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Quebec, two places where the cancellation of the highway tunnel project between the capital and Lévis has placed the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) on the defensive.
“I’m everywhere,” he dodged, saying he tries to get to all regions.
Mr. Legault inaugurated a sports complex in Saint-Georges in which his government has invested 34.9 million.
“It’s a project started in 2019,” he said. It has nothing to do with the decision on the third link. »
After the announcement that the third link would be devoted to public transport, one of the CAQ ministers in the region, Martine Biron, said that it would take a “lift return” to compensate. Mr. Legault said Thursday that the sports complex rewards the sacrifices made by the population during the pandemic.
“It’s normal that we return the elevator to young people and those who play sports,” he said.
The mayor of Saint-Georges, Claude Morin, former ADQ member, underlined the exceptional presence of Mr. Legault.
“I’ve never seen a prime minister come and announce something so big,” he said during the ceremony. He came here to get our vote, but now he’s giving us a gift. »
Mr. Morin then said that his constituents, who are in a CAQ constituency, are not the most affected by the changes to the third link.
“Nobody gets heart attacks because of that,” he said.