The government lacked transparency by delaying the publication of a cabinet decision authorizing the controversial subsidy of $5 to $7 million to finance two Los Angeles Kings games in Quebec next year, the MP said on Wednesday. liberal Enrico Ciccone.
A decree formalizing this decision was published Wednesday in the Official Gazette of Quebecthe official journal of the Quebec state which provides access to all laws, regulations, decrees, orders and notices whose dissemination is required.
According to the document, the council of ministers voted in favor of this financing on September 8, 2023, more than two months before it was made public, a state of affairs which is not appreciated by Mr. Ciccone.
“I’m not surprised,” he said. This is once again a lack of transparency. »
Mr. Ciccone stressed that the timing of the decision shows that the government had plenty of time to realize the incongruity of this subsidy.
“What is most unfortunate about all of this is that, again, they had three months to assess the situation,” he said. […] They had chances to move back, and then they didn’t. »
The decree published Wednesday specifies that the decision to delay its publication was taken so as not to harm discussions between Quebecor Sports and Entertainment, to which the funds are paid, and the Los Angeles Kings hockey club.
“It is in the public interest to defer publication until Official Gazette of Quebec of this decree to a date no later than December 15, 2023, in order to allow Quebecor Sports et Divertissement inc. to complete the agreement it is negotiating with the company The Los Angeles Kings Hockey Club LP,” indicates the document.
The decree specifies that the sums will be disbursed in two installments, i.e. 2.5 million during the 2023-2024 financial year and 4.5 million in 2024-2025.
On November 14, Finance Minister Eric Girard announced that the government would offer 5 to 7 million for the organization of two Kings preparatory matches at the Quebec amphitheater in October 2024.
Faced with the controversy, Mr. Girard then explained that he wanted to promote the chances of the Nordiques returning to Quebec. On Tuesday, however, the minister canceled a meeting with the commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman, which was part of this strategy.
Further details will follow.