Grand illusion

While annual fees demanded by the F1 boss would have added up to about $175 million by 2013, the counter offer of $110 million in public funds still sounded like an exuberant offer (anyway, it was turned down). It is true the annual Grand Prix race has brought in some high rollers to Montreal over the decades and helped raise the city's international profile. The event attracts some 300,000 race fans each year and reportedly brings in about $80 million per year. All these figures are significant to Montreal's tourism industry, but one wonders if all this public money being offered couldn't be invested elsewhere, perhaps spread around for different events and showcases, and generate equal if not better financial figures.

As well, one wonders why the three levels of government are so hyper keen on offering funds for the sport of car racing but couldn't put up similar efforts to save the Montreal Expos Major League Baseball team, or even Quebec City's Nordiques National Hockey League franchise, from relocating to the United States. Both these now-defunct professional sports teams were looking for some funding to build new facilities. If it wasn't a good idea to save these pro-sports teams with public monies even though they were around for more than one weekend per year, you have to question if F1 deserves an exemption from government thriftiness.

Even spending $110 million to bring multi-millionaires to town once a year seems ludicrous in light of chronic under-funding to amateur and scholastic sports programs. Imagine what cash-strapped administrators could do with $110 million. Safe to say their first thought would not be what type of champagne to buy.