Rapporter Les Nordiques

[troutman]

hustlerlawless Hustler & Lawless
RT @johnlutsnmtl: Bettman re: Q-City. Don't want to raise expectations. No team to relocate, even if new bldg is built, no promises.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

OMG! It's a Q and an N!

M e b
Montreal Expos Baseball

Montreal Olympics Logo

M for Montreal and Rings, 3 running tracks, podium.

Montreal suburb train logo


It's a heads on view of a 70's style diesel loco with an M.

The beat you over the head with symbology must be a Quebec thing. I never noticed until I moved out here.

[SkunkyJosh]

I hate les Nordiques, I hate Quebecor and I hate Labaume.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by troutman

One problem I see for QUE, is many people there must be big Habs fans already. It's almost like moving a team into the Leafs territory.

It won't be a problem. There were probably more than a few Oiler fans here in 1980.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by SkunkyJosh

I hate les Nordiques, I hate Quebecor and I hate Labaume.

Bye Bye Mon Cowboy.

[troutman]

This thread was featured in La Tribune des Nordiques de Québec:

http://paper.li/mesnordiques/1298418239

[troutman]

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/dave_naylor/?id=367644

In Quebec City they've already approved the money for an NHL arena, with the city and provincial governments committing almost $400 million and then striking a management contract with prospective NHL owner Pierre-Karl Peladeau. That contract is the source of some controversy within Quebec politics right now, but it figures to be a minor roadblock towards a building that seems sure to be built.

The powers that be in Quebec aren't doing this for nothing. They're doing it because they see what everyone else can see, that despite crushing the players union during the lockout, the NHL hasn't been able to solve the financial woes of teams that have attendance issues.

There probably isn't a folder labeled "get back to Quebec City" anywhere in the NHL business office either.

But with the league having at least one more major problem still to solve [Phonenix], and no answer in sight, the city that is ready, willing and able to provide a solution won't be hard to spot.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

A regional population of 1.3 million would be very similar to Calgary wouldn't it?

The Quebec metro is only 750,000 - the same as Winnipeg. The Calgary Metro is 1.24 million.

I suspect that to get to 1.3 million for a "Quebec City region", you could call all of southern Alberta part of the "Calgary region".

[troutman]

Challenge to arena deal could threaten return of NHL to Quebec City
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2045517/

The Quebec government is being told that it will have to do whatever it takes if it serious about getting a National Hockey League franchise in Quebec City – even if it means sidestepping some of its own laws. [told by whom?]

Two citizens are taking on Quebec City for a deal approved by the city in March would allow media giant Quebecor Media Inc. to manage the sports facility when it opens in 2015. Critics argue the deal appears to violate the provincial Charter of Cities and Towns, which lays out strict rules regarding the awarding of municipal contracts.

The challenge argues that the city bypassed the public-tendering process in the deal and that taxpayers were left in the dark with respect to other potential bids.

In fact, the city did not call for public tenders but conducted what is called a competitive bidding process, where companies were invited to express their interest in managing the new sports facility. According to the mayor, it was because Quebecor Media was the only bidder with the desire and financial ability to attract an NHL franchise that the company was chosen to negotiate a mutual agreement to manage the facility.

To get around the rules, a private member’s bill was tabled in the National Assembly that would sanction the deal between Quebec City and Quebecor, saying its provisions “are deemed not to contravene” provincial law.

Quebec law prohibits a city from building a publicly funded facility for the sole beneficiary of a private company. It also requires a city to hold public tenders to receive the best possible bid for the management of such facilities. [Glendale anyone?]

[troutman]

L'entente avec Quebecor sauvée par la loi omnibus
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/...oi-omnibus.php

The Minister of Municipal Affairs, Laurent Lessard, will introduce this morning an addition to the omnibus bill to end the session to include legislation to protect the agreement between the City of Quebec and Quebecor. [translation]

[troutman]

Sharp discord at Quebec City arena hearings

Quebecor CEO spoke to NHL in 2009
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...832/story.html

Quebecor Media Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau first contacted the National Hockey League about the return of professional hockey to Quebec City in November 2009.

Testifying at National Assembly hearings on Bill 204 to ensure there will be no legal challenge of Quebecor's deal to manage the city's future arena, Péladeau said he got in touch with the league knowing Régis Labeaume had just been re-elected the city's mayor with a mandate to bring back the NHL's Nordiques.

Péladeau said the NHL told him "several times" a condition for obtaining a franchise was a new arena. He added that if Winnipeg got back its NHL team, it was because everyone in the community was working together.

Without the adoption of Bill 204, before the assembly adjourns on June 10 for the summer, he said, there would be uncertainty about Quebecor's bid for a team, which could scuttle the project.
"It would be a huge collective failure," Péladeau said.

Bédard said Seattle, Houston and Las Vegas also want NHL teams and that the failure to adopt Bill 204 would cast doubt over Péladeau's bid, hurting Quebec City's chances.

[calgaryred]

I really do hope Quebec City gets back in the league they have the support from the people they love their hockey. I always liked that team, I think it's the only Canadian team I ever liked. Of course if they played Calgary in the playoffs they would be public enemy number one to me, but I hate the Canadiens so being their rival made me a fan.

[troutman]

Quebec arena saga heading into overtime

Clause-by-clause study needed, minister says
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Quebec+arena+saga+heading+into+overtime/4888060/story.html

After two days of listening to Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume and Quebecor Media Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau spin their dream of the return of professional hockey to the capital, as well as witnesses pro and con, three teams were circling the ice with their gloves dropped – the ruling Liberals; the Parti Québécois, sponsors of Bill 204; and a pickup squad of three independents.

Agnès Maltais, the PQ MNA for Quebec City’s Taschereau riding, who sponsored Bill 204, begged Liberal Municipal Affairs Minister Laurent Lessard in her closing remarks to roll it into his omnibus bill, making changes for Montreal and other cities in the province and set for adoption next week.


Rejecting testimony from the Canadian Bar Association and other witnesses at the hearings that Bill 204 is contrary to the rule of law and could be unconstitutional, Maltais said the assembly has adopted “several similar bills.”

“I want to vote,” she appealed to Lessard.


But Lessard stood firm by his position that he wants to proceed with clause-by-clause study of the Maltais bill on Monday afternoon.


“We want it to continue, clause by clause,” Lessard insisted

[troutman]

MNAs quit Parti Québécois over Pauline Marois's leadership style

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...948/story.html

On Monday, three leading members of the PQ caucus, Lisette Lapointe, accompanied to the capital by her husband, Jacques Parizeau; Louise Beaudoin, a former cabinet minister and once Quebec’s delegate general in Paris; and Quebec movie actor Pierre Curzi, resigned from the PQ caucus and the party.

They left because PQ leader Pauline Marois told them they had to vote for Bill 204, a private member’s bill, presented by Agnès Maltais, PQ MNA for Quebec City’s Taschereau riding, or quit.

Bill 204 would retroactively make legal an agreement the city of Quebec reached with Quebecor Media Inc. to manage for 25 years a proposed $400-million multi-functional amphitheatre.

The amphitheatre would double as home ice for a future National Hockey League team.

In return, Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau made a commitment to the city to bring back that NHL team to the capital.

But in negotiating its agreement with Quebecor, the city neglected a call for public tenders, as required by Quebec’s Cities and Towns Act.

[Resolute 14]

Well, that won't get ugly at all. Wonder how this will all impact the next Quebec election?

[troutman]

Charest plot twist: No vote on arena bill

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...415/story.html

In a new twist in the Quebec National Assembly psychodrama over Quebec City’s proposed new hockey arena, Premier Jean Charest announced Tuesday that retroactive legislation to make legal a management agreement, giving Quebecor Media Inc. naming rights to the $400-million facility, will not be voted on until the fall.

The premier’s decision came too late for the Parti Québécois, which lost four of its most talented MNAs after stormy party discussions over Bill 204, granting legal immunity to the management agreement.

Charest said he did not know what impact the delay would have on the deal.

“Mr. Labeaume and Mr. Péladeau will have to determine what that course of action will be,” Charest said.

Labeaume made a brief statement saying he was disappointed with the premier's decision.

In a news release, Quebecor said the prospect that the agreement could be contested in the courts does not ensure "optimal conditions for the return of National Hockey League team to Quebec City" and could mean additional delays

Quebec arena: What’s the fuss? Who would benefit? Is a special bill needed?

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...850/story.html

[troutman]

Quebecor-owned newspaper defends Quebecor-Quebec City arena deal
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...991/story.html

Thursday’s edition of Le Journal de Québec, owned by Quebecor Media Inc., ran a full, Page 1 headline on a black background that said: “Rumblings of anger in Quebec City.”

Why?

Because a bill to legally shelter an agreement between Quebec City and Quebecor Media Inc. will not be adopted by the legislature until September – and, according to the newspaper, that means Quebec City’s arena project and the return of the Nordiques to the city are jeopardized.

[troutman]

Quebec City needs to put shovels in the ground to lure NHL back
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/...lure-nhl-back/

Sports columnist Howard Bloom said he shares the pain of Quebec hockey fans over the province’s decision to delay making legal a management agreement that gives Quebecor Media Inc. naming rights to the proposed $400-million arena.

Bloom, publisher of sportsbusinessnews.com, believes Quebec City has all it takes to get a National Hockey League franchise back, except for a new state-of-the-art facility.

“If they had been building the arena, they would have had a team potentially now, they could have had the Phoenix team,” Bloom said in an interview.

However, if the construction doesn’t start in the next 12 months, Bloom said Quebec City will miss its chance to bid on the Coyotes and will end up waiting another three to five years.

Quebecor said Tuesday the prospect that the agreement could be contested in the courts does not ensure “optimal conditions for the return of National Hockey League team to Quebec City” and could mean additional delays.

“However, nothing prevents the mayor from starting the construction because he has secured the financing,” Richelieu said.

The provincial government has agreed to pay half of the construction costs, while the city will foot the other half of the bill.

The minister responsible for the Quebec City area said Wednesday the province remains committed to the arena project and hopes to be able to adopt a bill in the fall to secure the city’s agreement with Quebecor.

“We are going to settle this satisfactorily,” said Sam Hamad.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Howard Bloom is an idiot with no credibility. I can't believe a national newspaper printed his name.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Howard Bloom is an idiot with no credibility. I can't believe a national newspaper printed his name.

Let's not attack the person. How about his opinion?

I have not heard from him a long time - he used to appear on the Fan960 all the time.