Mayor Jim Watson's stance that property tax dollars should not subsidize private professional sports teams (aka the NHL Senators) is a good call, particularly when there are insufficient funds to maintain the City's infrastructure, provide adequate snow clearing, keep bus fares low, provide affordable housing, etc.

 

But how do we square this with the City's support to the CFL Redblacks football team? The City spent $171 million refurbishing the stadium at Lansdowne Park and then turned the operation of the whole site over to the Redblacks ownership, not only to operate this sports facility beyond CFL football games but also enabling them to do commercial & residential development on City land at the Lansdowne site. Now THAT'S a subsidy!