Federal government rules out helping bid for second coming of Nordiques

Ottawa won’t be ponying up any federal dollars to help Quebec City’s bid to land a new NHL franchise—but it’s not ruling out the prospect of helping fund a new professional-calibre arena, says Treasury Board President Stockwell Day. "As a federal government we’re not involved in the professional sports market, though we try to keep their taxes down for them," Day said in a speech in Montreal. However, a ministry staffer added a proposal that would see the federal government foot part of the bill for an arena is being prepared and will be considered by Ottawa. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has already indicated a new facility in Quebec City is required before the league entertains the idea of putting a team back in the provincial capital.

Montreal Gazette