WINNIPEG - Media executive David Asper's request for $80 million in public funding for a new football stadium is a little steep, Manitoba's senior federal cabinet minister hinted Wednesday.
"I've certainly heard from people across this province, and the prospect of the public sector paying two-thirds or three-quarters of this type of initiative does strike many people as rich," Treasury Board president Vic Toews told reporters. The federal government is willing to consider chipping in for a new stadium, but is not committing to any figure, said Toews, who met with Asper earlier this week. "I'm prepared to look for funds. We didn't talk any specific numbers, all my commitment was was to look for funds." Asper, the executive vice-president of Canwest Global Communications (TSX:CGS), wants $40 million each from the federal and Manitoba governments to build a new $120 million home for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Asper has offered to put up $40 million of his own, and would take over the community-owned team. Toews has already rejected a call to use money from federal infrastructure programs to fund the stadium, saying taxpayers expect that cash to be used on roads and sewers. He admitted Wednesday that helping replace the 54-year-old stadium in Winnipeg could prompt other sports teams to seek federal aid for their aging facilities. "There are others who are looking for money, so we have to be mindful of the impact right across Canada of granting any funds to any organization for this type of project." Winnipeg's stadium is not the oldest in the CFL. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders play in older buildings.
"I've certainly heard from people across this province, and the prospect of the public sector paying two-thirds or three-quarters of this type of initiative does strike many people as rich," Treasury Board president Vic Toews told reporters. The federal government is willing to consider chipping in for a new stadium, but is not committing to any figure, said Toews, who met with Asper earlier this week. "I'm prepared to look for funds. We didn't talk any specific numbers, all my commitment was was to look for funds." Asper, the executive vice-president of Canwest Global Communications (TSX:CGS), wants $40 million each from the federal and Manitoba governments to build a new $120 million home for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Asper has offered to put up $40 million of his own, and would take over the community-owned team. Toews has already rejected a call to use money from federal infrastructure programs to fund the stadium, saying taxpayers expect that cash to be used on roads and sewers. He admitted Wednesday that helping replace the 54-year-old stadium in Winnipeg could prompt other sports teams to seek federal aid for their aging facilities. "There are others who are looking for money, so we have to be mindful of the impact right across Canada of granting any funds to any organization for this type of project." Winnipeg's stadium is not the oldest in the CFL. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders play in older buildings.
Clemente set to coach Iran's national football team
Tehran - Iran seems to have reached an agreement with former Spain coach Javier Clemente to take over the country's national team, ISNA news agency reported Thursday. A spokesman for the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) told ISNA that several rounds of talks were held between Clemente and FFI officials in Frankfurt and an initial agreement was reached on Wednesday night. Mehdi Taj further said that Clemente, who was at the helm in Spain from 1992 to 1998, would soon to come to Tehran for final talks and eventually inking the agreement. According to tghe Mehr news agency, the FFI had preferred to hire a German coach with Lothar Matthaeus and Christoph Daum among the favourites.
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