The opposition on Wednesday invited Finance Minister Eric Girard to focus on higher priority issues than National Hockey League (NHL) games in Quebec, including the most recent budget deficit of $11 billion.
The member for Québec solidaire (QS) Vincent Marissal recalled that Mr. Girard himself estimated at 10% the probability of a return of an NHL team which could succeed the Nordiques in the capital.
“Doing canvassing which is also doomed to failure, I don’t think it’s the job of the Minister of Finance to do that,” he declared in an interview.
On Monday, Mr. Girard, responsible for the Nordiques’ return, met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, with whom he discussed the possibility of other teams imitating the Los Angeles Kings and playing games in Quebec. .
Mr. Marissal said that Mr. Girard’s repeated visits create unease given the lack of interest shown by Mr. Bettman in the return of a team to Quebec, where an amphitheater was built with 400 million public funds in the hope of seeing the Nordics again.
“It feels a little bit colonized,” he said. That’s a bit: we were born for a little bread. »
Credibility deficit
According to Mr. Marissal, the government should instead put its energies into creating a professional women’s hockey team.
“We will not be forced to bribe the National League or other teams,” he said. We won’t have to suck like Gary Bettman and the others have been sucking for years and I think it would be a little more profitable in the short term. »
Liberal MP Frédéric Beauchemin believes that the Minister of Finance has a “credibility deficit” since his controversial decision to grant a subsidy of 5 to 7 million for the organization of Los Angeles Kings matches in Quebec in October.
“While we are open to the idea of hosting other teams in the future, we believe it is not the Minister’s role to deal with this, rather let’s leave it to private companies specializing in this area , he said in a written statement. Moreover, we consider that with a deficit of $11 billion, there are more pressing priorities for the Minister of Finance. »
The PQ MP for Jean-Talon, Pascal Paradis, also felt that Mr. Girard should concentrate on his most pressing issues rather than trying to organize NHL matches.
“There are plenty of people in Quebec who specialize in this type of event,” he said in a written statement. At a time when Quebec’s finances require his full attention, it is perhaps time for the minister to let them work. »
Public funds
Mr. Marissal still showed himself open to the proposal to host other NHL games in Quebec, without support with public funds, as Mr. Girard’s office indicated on Tuesday.
The QS MP recalled that the case of Salt Lake City, where the Kings will play without receiving assistance from the City or the State of Utah, demonstrates that the minister poorly negotiated the agreement for the matches that they will compete in Quebec.
“He should not be fooled a second time,” he said. But if there are other teams that come, we should not put public money into it. We were taught a lesson by Salt Lake City who brought in the Kings for free. »
Mr. Beauchemin, for his part, requested more details on Mr. Girard’s plan which aims to highlight the Quebec amphitheater thanks to these NHL matches.
“We doubt Minister Girard’s ability to lead these negotiations,” he said. Before fully supporting this initiative, we demand transparency and details of its plan on the valorization of the amphitheater and for the economic benefits. »
Mr. Paradis, for his part, stressed that Quebec remains an ideal place to organize sporting events in particular.
“There are many hockey fans in Quebec,” he said.