Senators Chair Rod Bryden told the editorial board of
the OTTAWA CITIZEN that the Canadian hockey industry is
"being treated unfairly and he will sell the team to U.S.
interests within 18 months if no relief is in sight." A
"recent, exhaustive search for a local owner failed."
Bryden: "This isn't a demand or threat or pout. People in
political office have very difficult choices to make. But
I'm not going to keep writing cheques. I just want to be
sure that is absolutely clear." Bryden estimated the
franchise is worth "about" US$110M. He is looking for some
tax relief from the government and other public subsidies,
but he said, "I'm not saying that I expect government to
guarantee I won't lose money" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 2/25).
HELP HIM IF YOU CAN, HE'S FEELING DOWN: Federal cabinet
Industry Minister John Manley is "expected to formally
present" a series of options to help Canada's NHL teams,
including "relief" from "prohibitive taxes." The NATIONAL
POST's Jane Taber reported that it "appears that about two-
thirds of the cabinet are either sympathetic to the plight"
of Bryden or "want to hear more about the situation." Taber
wrote that Bryden has a "compelling case," as the club pays
C$4.5M a year in property taxes on the Corel Centre
(NATIONAL POST, 2/24). In Ottawa, Wayne Scanlan reports
that Bryden presents a "strong case for a better tax shake"
(OTTAWA CITIZEN, 2/25). But Manley said yesterday, "I've
agreed to try to understand what the nature of the problem
is. But at this point, I haven't heard any great public
outcry for support" (OTTAWA SUN, 2/25).
