Canadian Industry Minister John Manley said yesterday
that the Liberal government "will provide assistance to
financially strapped" Canadian-based NHL teams if the league
and the provinces also contribute, according to Shawn
McCarthy of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Following a meeting
between Manley and officials from four Canadian NHL cities,
Manley "agreed to convene a summit meeting" next month with
the provinces, municipalities, the NHL and team owners in
order "to hammer out a co-ordinated approach" to financial
relief. Manley added that "unless the NHL is at the table
in order to provide a number of assurances," among those
that teams "exercise greater control of operating costs,
such as salaries," then "there's not much point in
governments becoming involved." NHL Commissioner Gary
Bettman said that he is "optimistic that the league can
provide those assurances." Bettman: "It's not something we
can change unilaterally. As we go through this process, we
need to stay in good contact with the players' association."
But, NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow said that player salaries
"are not an issue," since "cost certainty is already
established" by the league's CBA and "is not something the
owners are asking for" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/28). In
Toronto, Tim Harper writes that Manley said the loss of any
Canadian NHL teams would be a "tragedy." Manley: "This is
important to Canadians. It's important to me" (TORONTO
STAR, 4/28). Calgary Mayor Al Duerr, on the meeting: "There
was an acknowledgement on all sides of a sense of urgency,
and a need to make decisions fairly quickly" (CALGARY SUN,
4/28). In Edmonton, Norm Ovenden writes that the Alberta
government "has quietly cleared the path" for a new lottery
that could provide C$4M in benefits for "cash-strapped"
provincial sports teams like the Oilers. Manley called the
plan "a very appealing solution" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 4/28).
BUT SHOULD THE GOVT HELP? An editorial in this
morning's Toronto GLOBE & MAIL states, "It makes sense to
give [teams] tax breaks, but with a caveat. You get the
breaks, but only if you continue to operate like a 'normal'
Canadian cultural institution. That is, one that stays put
even though it loses money" (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/28). Also in
Toronto, Dalton Camp writes that with government assisting
NHL teams financially, the "next thing we know, hockey teams
will have to seek federal approval for player trades."
Camp: "What price [is] our freedom if we save the Flames yet
set fire to our scruples?" (TORONTO STAR, 4/28).
