 Bernier called a study claiming the arena could be profitable "deceptive" and that building the arena would saddle taxpayers with a burden for years to come. (REUTERS)
|
OTTAWA - A major force in the Quebec Conservatives has come out against federal money being spent on an arena in Quebec City. Maxime Bernier, the Conservative MP from Beauce wrote on his website Friday that the project is not profitable.
Quebec City hopes to land both the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and an NHL team. To that end, there are plans to build an arena at a cost of more than $400 million.
City leaders have pledged $50 million, Premier Jean Charest has pledged $180 million and there are calls for the Harper government to provide the rest.
Bernier called a study claiming the arena could be profitable "deceptive" and that building the arena would saddle taxpayers with a burden for years to come.
Most of the Conservative MPs in Quebec back the idea and donned vintage Quebec Nordique hockey jerseys to show their support. Bernier was not there.
“I, too, share the dream of again seeing a professional hockey team come back to play in our region, and I sincerely hope that a way will be found to make this dream come true. But dreaming does not make the hard financial reality go away,” Bernier wrote.
The former cabinet minister has been traveling the country making speeches to Conservative Party supporters about the need to shrink government and increase individual responsibility. Bernier wrote that he cannot preach those views and then remain silent as this issue heats up across Canada.
“The hard reality is that we have just been through a global economic crisis — which remains very preoccupying and is likely not over — and governments in both Quebec City and Ottawa are heavily indebted,” Bernier wrote.
On Thursday Prime Minister Stephen Harper was asked about arena funding while traveling in Saskatchewan where the City of Regina would like to see federal dollars for a new football stadium. Harper noted that the government does not and never has funded sports teams but acknowledged the government is under pressure to fund stadiums and arenas.
“We’re going to have to respect the precedents we’ve had in the past, and be sure that any treatment we’re prepared to give to one major city, we’re prepared to give to all,” Harper said.
