Recent comments by politicians on the Quebec City arena:
-- Tory Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Josee Verner Minister Josee Verner, Jan. 27, 2011: “All the Canadian government has in its hands are public declarations and an Ernst and Young report with a 75% margin of error."
-- Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, Jan. 26, 2011: “No public subsidies for the National Hockey League, no public subsidies for millionaires.”
-- Tory MP Maxime Bernier, Jan. 25, 2011: "We'll let (cabinet) handle the file, but the government would be pleased to study the proposed offers.”
-- Tory Senator Larry Smith, Dec. 22, 2010 : “It absolutely takes a solid private investor who will accept a large part, otherwise we're going nowhere.”
-- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Dec. 20, 2010: “There is no federal program in place to finance professional sports installations - not now, not in the last decade. Professional sports have been the responsibility of the private sector.”
-- Liberal MP Bob Rae, Sept. 10, 2010: " The federal government should first establish a country-wide policy. It can't do something for Quebec that it's not willing to do for other cities. There are professional hockey and football teams across the country."
-- Minister of Veterans Affairs Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Sept 8, 2010: “As MPs, we cannot ignore the wishes of the population that wants the Nordiques to return. In addition, our political formation, the Conservative Party, has received important support in Quebec City.”
-- Minister Josee Verner, Sept. 8, 2010: “It's true that other areas in the country have similar demands and we have to be aware of that.”
-- Treasury Board President Stockwell Day, Aug. 27, 2010: “As a federal government we’re not involved in the professional sports market, though we try to keep their taxes down for them.”
