TORONTO – Premier Dalton McGuinty says he’d love to see another NHL club in southern Ontario.
McGuinty says he would cheer on any team that came to the province if Research In Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie has his way.
But he says he won’t get involved to help the Canadian billionaire’s US$212.5-million bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes – a deal that is conditional on moving the team to southern Ontario.
McGuinty says he hasn’t been contacted by Balsillie and isn’t looking to free up taxpayer dollars to help move the team.
But he says Ontario is a great market and could easily fill up another arena somewhere in southern Ontario with hockey fans.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also says the region could support a second NHL club.
While Harper, who is in Prague, declined to comment specifically on the Balsillie deal he did say he’s tried to talk up southern Ontario to the NHL.
