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Friday, December 3, 1999
Govt. must step to plate
Governments shouldn't need an excuse to do the right thing.
Those were Rod Bryden's powerful words yesterday as the Ottawa Senators owner announced he has officially placed the For Sale sign on his club.
Unless the federal government falls in line quickly with the municipal and provincial tax breaks proposed for the club, the Senators will make like Alexei Yashin -- never to be seen again in Canada wearing a home jersey.
He's not posturing, he's not asking for unique treatment, he just wants everyone to know that, for a small, reasonable price, NHL hockey can be saved in Canada with a federal assistance plan available to every Canadian team.
Otherwise, we'll lose yet another national treasure as part of the ongoing domino effect sure to eventually chase the Flames and Oilers south as well.
The relief sought from the feds is roughly $3.7 million per team annually to help offset the currency difference, which is the biggest thing killing Canadian clubs. After all, the same amount is chipped in by the 22 American teams, which realize the importance of Canadian clubs to the league.
So why doesn't the Canadian government see it the same way?
They're scared.
In one of the most heavily-taxed countries in the world, there is fear by politicians such concessions would be political suicide.
Well, I'm not convinced that being known as the man who let NHL hockey slip south will help snot-nosed Industry Minister John Manley get re-elected anywhere. Besides, surely he's seen the shift in public opinion on the matter. Now that Bryden and the rest of the Canadian teams have shed light on the hurdles they face, the public seems to finally understand NHL clubs deserve the same sort of breaks other industries enjoy.
A petition by the Calgary Sun last spring, urging governments at all levels for tax relief for Canadian small-market clubs, drew a positive response from almost 20,000.
However, it's probably a tad unrealistic to expect politicians to be in touch with the people.
What we need now is someone who can cut through all the red tape and stick his neck out and make it clear taxpayers can pay now, or pay later.
You see, if the Senators leave, the national capital region will lose a $37-million taxpayer. That shortfall has to be made up somewhere.
By giving fair and equitable tax breaks to the tune of $10-$12 million, thousands of jobs can be saved, civic pride will remain high and millions of tax dollars will still be chipped in to the hungry public coffers. What's more, the league has guaranteed every Canadian team's survival for as long as the government does the same.
The man who needs to step in, if he's not somewhere in Africa handing out millions in relief money, is Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
In a country that spent $1.8 million for the three-stripe Voice of Fire painting (from an American artist) to add to our cultural enjoyment, surely the PM can come up with a relative pittance to preserve a game Canadians have been defined by.
The same man whose government somehow allowed a porno, Bubbles Galore, to be funded using tax dollars needs to quickly realize if it doesn't act now, the Sens will be gone forever. Bryden isn't bluffing. He'd be happy to rid himself of this terrible financial burden.
Surely Chretien can see it's in the country's best interest to do what he can to keep Canadian hockey alive.
He has to do what's right.
There are no excuses.
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