Two Los Angeles Kings pre-season matches — which got $7 million subsidies from the government — happen in Quebec City this week.
The jersey read “King of Deficits” and had “$11 billion” on the back.
The Kings will face the Boston Bruins Thursday evening at Centre Vidéotron. The team will then play Saturday against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.
Liberal Leader Marc Tanguay showed off the jersey during a media scrum Thursday at the National Assembly.
“The captain of the deficits team, the king of deficits, is François Legault,” he said. “Pay honour where honour is due.”
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he wouldn’t go to either match, despite his love for hockey.
“I’ll go see the Quebec Remparts, but you won’t see me at the Kings,” he said.
“In no world would I encourage a dilapidation of public funds,” Blanchet said, pointing out that the Los Angeles Kings won’t disclose the profits earned from the games.
Finance Minister Eric Girard, who made the decision on the matches, didn’t take a position on people who won’t attend the games.
“I’ll let people decide,” he said. “It’s a celebration of hockey. Those who want to go will go, those who don’t, won’t.”