Update on Federal Financial Assistance to NHL Teams in Canada

Due to the tremendously negative response of the majority of stakeholders and Canadians, the government has come to the conclusion that there is no shared solution to be pursued in respect of the six Canadian NHL teams.

The federal government had proposed being part of a shared solution that would include all stakeholders - the NHL, the Canadian NHL teams and the provinces and municipalities in which the teams are located.

This proposal is being withdrawn. We will not be pursuing this matter any further.

Our Caucus has been conveying the strong opposition of their constituents to taxpayer assistance to professional hockey - views that our government has taken very seriously.

The very stakeholders who, prior to Tuesday's announcement, had said they might be receptive to being part of a shared solution have since made it known that they are not prepared to do so.

The British Columbia Finance Minister Paul Ramsay, Alberta Treasurer Stockwell Day, Premier Mike Harris and Quebec Municipal Affairs Minister Louise Harel have all weighed in very negatively on the issue.

Municipal stakeholders have also been generally lukewarm.