Two statements made before the Senate by MLB officials were
questioned after the hearing. First, acting MLB Commissioner Bud
Selig said that season ticket holders could receive refunds for
games with replacement players and would not lose their seats.
Reds Owner Marge Schott's response: "If he said that, this lady
will be on the phone tomorrow." The Reds have not offered a
refund to season-ticket holders. They are the only club that has
not either lowered ticket prices or offered refunds for
replacements games (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/16). Two other clubs
are following different plans -- the Giants, who are being sued
by a season ticket holder over the issue, and the Rockies, who
are not allowing season ticket holders to retain their seat
locations if they fail to buy for replacement games (THE DAILY).
HAZY REPORTS FROM CANADA: The second disputed statement
came from MLB General Counsel Chuck O'Connor, who announced to
the media that the Canadian government will allow the Expos to
hire replacement players. But neither Pam Cullum, a spokesperson
for the Canadian Department of Immigration, and Paul Cavalluzzo,
a Toronto-based lawyer who is acting as Canadian counsel to the
MLBPA, would confirm the report. In addition, Expos President
Claude Brochu was unaware of O'Connor's statement. Cavalluzzo:
"It appears Mr. O'Connor believes we're some sort of banana
republic up here, but we're not." Brochu: "All I can say is that
we're optimistic, we're moving ahead on it and these things take
a bit of time" (Mike Rutsey, TORONTO SUN, 2/16). According to
the TORONTO STAR, O'Connor based his statement on a memo from
Brochu stating that the Expos were advised by Peter Harder,
Deputy Minister Citizenship and Immigration Canada, that
temporary replacement from outside Canada will be allowed entry
into Canada. But Judy Morrison, press secretary to Immigration
Minister Sergio Marchi, questioned the "accuracy" of Brochu's
memo (TORONTO STAR, 2/16).
