Montreal mayor cancels Formula E race, calls it 'financial fiasco'

Montreal will no longerhost the controversial Formula E electric car race, now thatMayor Valrie Plante's administration has learned taxpayers would be expected to shell out up to $35 million for the second edition of the racein 2018.

"Montrealers have made it clear that we can't waste their money on poorly planned projects that don't serve them," Plantesaid.

She criticizedthe former Coderreadministration for not showing any fiscal savvy.

"It was clear as of last May that the organization was headed straight for a financial fiasco," she said.

Montreal it's electric, the non-profit organization behindthe race,owes creditors $6.2 millionforunpaid bills and is$9.5 million intoits line of credit.

These cost overruns are all on top of the city's commitment of$24 million over six years.

On Monday afternoon, Formula E tweeted a response to the announcement, writing, "Ouch! That hurt!" accompanied by a video of a race car crashing into a guardrail.

Formula E issued a statement saying that management was "surprised and disappointed" by what they called a unilateral decision taken by thePlante administration.

"This is a clear case of a new mayor undoing what the previous mayor did. Whilst there is a contract in place, we will not make further comments at this point as this is now in the hands of our Canadian legal counsel."

Why she pulled the plug

Plante said the city had three options when it came to what would happen to Formula Enext year: redo theCircuit Gilles-Villeneuve and move the race there, create a new racetrack elsewhere, or postpone the race fora year to try and find a better option.

The Planteadministration settled on suspending the race in 2018 to evaluate what it would do butFormula E said this was unacceptable, so Plantepulled the plug instead.

Valrie Plante cancels Formula E race

7 years ago

Duration 0:39

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante said the Formula E race turned into a 'financial fiasco' and it wasn't worth it to hold it next year.

Plantesaid she isn't sure how much withdrawing from Formula E willcostbut said she'sconfident that it willbe less expensive than continuingwith it.

Montreal it's electric issued a statement after Plante's announcement, saying it would collaborate with the city to close the balance sheet on the event. Itmaintained a positive spin on the race itself.

"Despite a negative media perception due mainly to the cost of the event, the obstacles to traffic and the constraints imposed on the citizens in the neighborhood, the event itself was a great success."

The organization also tried to distance itself from the financial losses, saying that all of the contract negotiations were done by the mayor's office directly.

Montreal it's electric added that while there are outstanding bills owed to Formula E and Evenko, all of its local suppliers had been paid.

The group is expected to present an update on its finances to the city in January.

Campaign promise fulfilled

During the election campaign,Plantesaid she would hold the race at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuveorcancelit altogether, if possible.

• The organizer of Montreal's Formula E race is millions of dollars in debt

Figures released just before the Nov. 5 municipal election showed only 25,000 tickets were sold and 20,000 were given away to boost attendance numbers.

Formula E was the initiative of former mayor Denis Coderre,who said the race would help promote sustainable energy initiatives in Montreal.

Therace was slated to be heldagain in 2018 and 2019.

It was widelycriticizedfor its use of public funds, something other citiesdon't do, and for its location in the east end of downtown Montreal, where it forced the closure or reconfiguration of several city streets.

In the fall, Planteslammed the race for its financial impact on the city.

• ValriePlantepromises to move Formula E race out of downtown

"What were the economic benefits?Was it worth it for the citizens who felt trapped and the businesses thatlost money?" Plante said.

Neighbourhood opponent delighted

Heidi Miller,who organized an online opposition group to the race calledFormuleCitoyenne, said she's happy that MayorPlante"respected her promise."

"I did a little jig.I was really excited.I was really happy," said Miller.

She lives in the area where the race was held and mobilized her friends and neighbours to lobby for the event to be moved to a less populated area.

"This was the best decision that could be made."