Grand Prix

Jack Layton attacked Liberal Minister John Manley in 2000 and 2003 for his discussion of financially aiding Canadian NHL teams in danger of moving south. He said in his convention speech that Manley would “pick up a phone to call a bank president to save an NHL team, but not pick up the phone to help a student with her student loan.”

Now he is singing a rather different tune, promising to spend federal money to bring the Grand Prix back to Canada. According to Jack!, the event is important for the local economy, and ought to be kept there.

I would argue that if something is really that important to the economy, it should be able to survive of its own accord. It’s not the government’s place to prop up any entertainment, let alone something MEANT to be commercial.

However, if this was something I was interested in, I would certainly see the NHL as more vital to Canada’s culture and economy than auto racing.

Hat tip to Andrew Steele of the Globe and Mail.