Liberals, CAQ, PQ all open to public funding of new Montreal baseball stadium

Quebec's three main political parties are open to the idea of providing public money for the construction of a new baseball stadium in downtown Montreal as long as taxpayers aren't left on the hook for the whole thing.

The Quebec Liberal Party, Coalition Avenir Qubec and theParti Qubcoisare all willing to be minority partners in the project, with certain conditions.

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Carlos Leito, who was finance minister when Liberal leader Philippe Couillard called the election, said a private consortium must have a plan in placeand must secure a team on itsown.

"We want nothing to do with the eventual purchase of a baseball team," said Leito, speaking to reportersWednesday.

However, he said,the province would look at possible financing options for the construction of a stadium as a minority partner.

That sentiment was echoed by Parti Qubcois candidate Nicolas Marceau, who is running for re-election in the Lanaudire riding of Rousseau.

"The team must be purchased by a private group," Marceau said at a news conference Wednesday. He said a PQ government would only be willing to pick up a small part of the construction bill for a new stadium.

The CAQ has previously said it'swilling to putpublic money toward the construction of a stadium, as long as a private consortium was paying for most of it.

"Long live baseball in Montreal," said CAQ leader Franois Legault Tuesday in Trois-Rivires after a supporter gave him a ball signed by former Expo and Baseball Hall-of-Famer Vladimir Guerrero.

Avoiding another white elephant

All the major parties keenly want to avoid another funding fiasco like that which led to the construction of Quebec City's ill-fated Vidotron Centre, a decision made by Jean Charest'sLiberal government back in 2011.

"We will not do 'build it and they will come,'" said Leito.

Aside from a few high-profile concerts, that arenahas largely remained empty since it opened three years ago, withQubecor Media Inc.'s failure to secure an NHL expansion team.

The Quebec government and Quebec City split thebill for the arena'sconstruction to the tune of nearly $400 million.

'Not 1 cent' from QubecSolidaire

In stark contrast to the three main parties' stance, Qubec Solidaireis adamant it would never contribute public money to the construction of an NHLhockey arena.

Party spokesperson Stphanie Guevremont told Radio-Canada that the party would put "not one cent" toward the return of baseball to Montreal.

However, a QubecSolidaire government would be prepared to help pay for repairs tothe roof of the Olympic Stadium.

It's a position the partyshares with the Liberals.Last year, the Couillard government committed to spending upwards of $200 million on the roof in the lead-up tothe 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

With files from Radio-Canada

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