Outrage Over Government Subsidy for Los Angeles Kings Preparatory Games in Quebec

QUEBEC CITY — The subsidy of $5 to seven million granted by the Legault government for the Los Angeles Kings to come play two preparatory games in Quebec continues to arouse indignation.

On Wednesday, it was the turn of the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), Éric Duhaime, to express his dissatisfaction with this government decision which he describes as “indecent”.

He demanded in an interview that the Legault government cancel its subsidy, especially in the context where “the Montreal Canadiens were ready to come to Quebec for free,” which the club confirmed to The Canadian Press.

At the office of the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, the response was that “the contract is signed”. The five to seven million dollars will cover the excess between expenses and revenue generated.

“The context is favorable to say: “Look, we made a mistake”. I think that confessed fault is half forgiven. It’s much better than getting bogged down in this decision,” said Mr. Duhaime.

He also criticized the timing of the announcement. According to him, many Quebecers who have difficulty paying for their groceries and their mortgage feel “insulted.”

The Conservative leader did not fail to point out that the announcement of the subsidy fell in the middle of negotiations to renew the collective agreements for public sector workers.

“It’s insulting for the teacher who is told that the government does not have a penny more for her salary increase, but it has millions for a hockey team (…) to train at the Videotron Center .”

Moreover, the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) was quick to react: “Do we have to dress like hockey players for you to take negotiations seriously?” she quipped on social networks.

According to Éric Duhaime, since suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the Parti Québécois (PQ) in Jean-Talon, François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has “lost the North”.

“Not only do I have the impression that there is unanimity among the population against an indecent subsidy like this, but I wonder who had the idea to think that this could be a good idea.

“What planet do they live on? How can they think that the population will find it “fun” that we take their money and then give it to a professional hockey team? Let’s see!”

Lack of judgment

Tuesday, Eric Girard announced that the Kings will present part of their training camp and will play two preparatory games from October 2 to 6, 2024 at the Videotron Center.

Their own amphitheater will be under renovation next fall.

They will host the Boston Bruins in a first preseason game on October 3, before facing the Florida Panthers two days later.

“At the Videotron Center, we have an exceptional infrastructure, and I think it is important to show it off and use it for major events,” said Mr. Girard.

The Minister of Finance awarded a subsidy of five to seven million dollars, which he defended by making comparisons with other sports, without having analyzed the economic benefits.

He made this announcement a week after declaring, in presenting his economic update, that Quebec’s financial framework was “tight” and that the next six months would be difficult.

“The CAQ government has lost all sense of priorities,” reacted the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), Marc Tanguay. François Legault demonstrates a flagrant lack of judgment.”

Liberal MP Gregory Kelley pointed out that food banks were still asking for $8 million. “Thousands of Quebecers are hungry. It’s more important than two hockey games,” he said.

The parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire (QS), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, agreed.

“Quebecers really like hockey, but they would also like to have a government with a sense of priorities. The CAQ is passing the palette to the NHL rather than to the people who are struggling,” he lamented.

For his part, the PQ MP for the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Joël Arseneau, declared on the X network that the Legault government’s decision to subsidize the Kings matches left him “without words”.

He pointed out that this same government had just abolished the Assistance Program for Maintaining Essential Regional Air Services.

“We are talking about very similar amounts. The government is paying for the Kings’ trip to Quebec, but cutting the wings of regional air transport,” said Mr. Arseneau.