http://timestranscript.canadaeast.co...article/834790
PM wants more NHL teams
Published Saturday October 24th, 2009
League should boost presence north of border, says Harper
THE CANADIAN PRESS
ST-GEORGES, Que. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he'd like to see more National Hockey League teams in Canada.
The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he would like to see NHL teams in Quebec, Hamilton and Winnipeg.
The first question Harper faced during a news conference in Quebec's Beauce region yesterday was about a plan to bring back the defunct Quebec Nordiques.
"Of course, as a big hockey fan I would certainly like to see more teams created here in Canada," the prime minister replied.
"I think the cities of Quebec, Hamilton and Winnipeg are all able to support a team."
However, Harper said questions about hockey franchises would be better addressed to the NHL -- not to him.
He added that he didn't want to be dragged into a local political debate.
Quebec City is in the middle of a municipal election and its incumbent mayor, Regis Labeaume, is campaigning on a promise to build a modern arena that could attract an NHL team.
Labeaume wants the provincial and federal governments to fund almost all of its projected $400 million cost.
The city lost its Nordiques in the 1990s.