Cancel NHL deal and spend more on bringing Canadian tourists to P.E.I., Opposition tells province

P.E.I.'s Opposition leader continued to pressure the government Wednesday about the money it's spending to attract visitors from the United States, taking a new tack on getting the province to scrap its controversial contract with the National Hockey League. 

The governing Progressive Conservatives' multimillion-dollar deal with the NHL saw P.E.I. branded as the league's official travel destination. It has come under fire from the Liberals, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump wages a trade war with Canada and many other countries.  

During question period in the legislature, interim Liberal Leader Hal Perry asked Tourism Minister Zack Bell if the government would consider cancelling the contract in order to shift more tourism dollars into encouraging Canadians to travel to the Island. 

Bell didn't answer that question directly, but said the province is always trying to expand its reach when it comes to drawing in new visitors, including Americans.  

"If we can tell those people who we are, at least let them be introduced to what we are, then hopefully they'll choose P.E.I. and spend their money here," Bell said. 

WATCH | More questions in the legislature about how P.E.I. will respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs:

More questions in the legislature about how P.E.I. will respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs

20 hours ago

Duration 3:11

On the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump was unveiling another slew of international tariffs, opposition politicians in P.E.I. continued to ask for a more detailed game plan. Among their suggestions: Cancel the NHL travel destination deal and spend more to bring Canadian tourists to P.E.I. this summer. CBC's Kerry Campbell reports.

Shortly after that, Premier Rob Lantz also jumped in to reply, calling Perry "anti-American" because of his questions.

"We don't have to go down there, but I am glad to welcome Americans here to spend their money," Lantz said. 

"I also want to point out that the NHL contract is a signed contract with a Canadian company that employs hundreds of employees right here in Canada." 

No more details on tariff response

The P.E.I. government has said for weeks that it is reviewing its list of contracts with U.S. companies. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Jill Burridge said "the list is small," totalling about $4.5 million in spending.

While the NHL has a Canadian subsidiary, the league's head office is in New York. Several P.E.I. cabinet ministers were given a tour there in 2023 in the leadup to the Dennis King government signing the deal with the league.

Later Wednesday afternoon, Trump announced sweeping tariffs on the goods it imports from several countries, a move that could cause seismic shifts in the global economy. 

The continued trade war threat has spurred buy-local movements here at home, and has led many Canadians to question their purchases and investments in American products and companies. 

The Lantz government has been criticized for not providing more detail in terms of how it will respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs and support Island industries.

The government has promised legislation to reduce trade barriers with other provinces and a contingency fund in its new operating budget to support affected industries. There were no details offered Wednesday about how it might all work. 

Neither Lantz nor Economic Development Minister Darlene Compton would agree to an interview about the tariff response plan Wednesday in advance of Trump's announcement. 

WATCH | What P.E.I. gains from that controversial NHL promotional deal:

Of hockey and tourism head counts: What P.E.I. gains from that controversial NHL promotional deal

2 days ago

Duration 7:06

Corryn Clemence, the head of the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I., joins Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass to talk about the NHL tourism destination deal the province signed. 'We're always punching above our weight' when it comes to competing with bigger-budget destinations for the attention of possible visitors, she points out. Her bottom line? Prince Edward Island needs this kind of partnership to stand out from the crowd.

Perry said he's "shocked and saddened" that the province continues to make investments in the U.S. in the face of a major trade dispute, and continued to call for details on how the province plans to support industries that suffer.

On Tuesday, the Liberals put forward a motion calling for the province, the federal government and industry leaders to develop a "strong response" to the tariff threat.

"We need to give the businesses, the fishermen, the farmers and all residents of Prince Edward Island the assurance that this government has their back, and to date I don't feel that," Perry said as he spoke to the motion.