No cash for arenas: Tories
The federal government says none of the cities who have asked for federal money to build arenas are going to get it.
There won't be any federal money for a hockey arena in Quebec City — or anywhere else in the country for that matter, the Conservatives said Wednesday. Sort of.
A message sent to Conservative supporters and leaked to reporters says the government has decided not to fund any pro sports facilities.
"Several cities across Canada have requested that the federal government contribute funding to help build new professional sports facilities. Please use the following lines when communicating with your local media and constituents," the email reads.
"The government has no program to fund professional sports facilities. And the government has decided against creating such a program. This decision will be applied consistently across the country."
Jason Kenney, a senior cabinet minister, confirmed the decision on Twitter.
"Delighted with today's announcement that the government will NOT create a program to subsidize professional sports arenas," tweeted Kenney, minister of citizenship and immigration.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, speaking on CBC's Power & Politics with Evan Solomon, later said the government had just made the decision.
"The government does not have a program to fund sports arenas for professional sports teams," he told Solomon.
"We're going to stay away from subsidizing professional sports."
Josée Verner, the minister responsible for the Quebec City region, spoke on the issue Tuesday but didn't go as far as the leaked talking points. She did say newly announced funding from the private sector wasn't enough to get the federal government involved.
Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume fired back, saying the federal Conservatives are taking a suicidal position by refusing to help finance the arena.
Labeaume said he was stunned to hear Verner say the private-sector contribution to the project was insufficient for Ottawa to be involved.
Speaking on a Montreal radio station Wednesday, Labeaume said he cannot understand why Ottawa is shunning the project.
"I thought that was a suicidal response, and I'm inclined to believe they are under some kind of pressure because it makes no sense," Labeaume said.
The Conservatives have most of their 11 Quebec seats around Quebec City.
So far, Quebec City and the provincial government are on the hook for picking up the estimated $400-million tab for the facility.
Quebecor has been licensed to name and manage the arena.
Several other Canadian cities had asked for cash to build new arenas.
With files from The Canadian Press