"The only certainty about how a Yes vote in [today's] Quebec
referendum would affect Canadian sport is uncertainty," writes
Rick Mayoh of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. Concerns include a devalued
Canadian dollar and national sports development programs.
Canadian Olympic and junior hockey league officials refused to
comment, holding out hope that there would be a No vote. But
Bloc Quebecois official Benoit Sauvageau pictures a Quebec
Olympic team in '96. The Province has the second highest sports
participation rate to British Columbia (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 10/28).
NHL Senior VP Brian Burke: "It raises a whole series of issues
if the separatists are successful. There may be different
customs and immigration difficulties getting in to play Montreal,
but I think we're all going to have to wait and see what happens
and hope these are issues we don't have to deal with" (David
Shoalts, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/28).
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE TWO TEAMS: The Canadiens have taken
no stance on the issue. In Montreal, Jack Todd writes, "The
Canadiens are notoriously cautious when it comes to this
province's zany politics, knowing that to ally their famous team
with either side would be to incur the wrath of the other. It's
smart marketing to remain neutral." On the Expos, Todd writes,
"If the polls hold and the Oui side wins today, the Expos are
probably through. ... A Oui vote will drive many diehard anglo
fans, the very heart of the team's season-ticket base, out of the
province" -- and maybe the team to Northern VA. Todd does add,
even if Quebecers vote to secede, the Canadiens will never change
their name. Todd: "It's one of those weird contradictions of
Quebec that the 'Canadiens' will always be the 'Canadiens,' even
if Canada itself is anathema to too many people in this province"
(MONTREAL GAZETTE, 10/30).
