Minister Eric Girard and his government are jeopardizing the Nordiques’ possible return to Quebec by pouring public money into staging two Kings exhibition games, according to Liberal MP and former hockey player Enrico Ciccone.
• Also read: Grant for the Kings: Girard acknowledges the criticism, but doesn’t give in
• Also read: The return of the Nordic countries: the equivalent of waiting for the return of a woman who left 25 years ago, according to Bruno Marchand
“When you spend (tax) money, it’s like asking for a team,” the former NHL player said. Seeing the state having to pay to set up a team proves that it is not strong enough, even if that is wrong! It sends the wrong message because we are capable of hosting an NHL team here!”
Enrico Ciccone believes it is completely unjustified that the government is spending $5-7 million from the treasury to move a “billion-dollar” team to Quebec.
On Tuesday, the finance minister vigorously defended his decision. Despite the very negative reaction, which he fully accepts, Mr. Girard refuses to back down from the controversial subsidy announced last week to bring the Los Angeles Kings to the Videotron Center for a week in October 2024.
After claiming last week, he now realizes that there is a connection between this event and the return of the Nordiques. He says there’s a 10% chance the Nordiques will return to Quebec.
Rep. Ciccone claims that NHL leaders like Gary Bettman do not like to negotiate publicly and that the strategy pursued by the Legault government is not the right one.
“The CAQ does not know how negotiations with the NHL work,” he stressed at a press conference in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
More details to follow…