Suzie Q

Q Team
Everywhere I go, people are asking me my opinion on the possibility of a Q Team in Summerside and where I stand on the issue. My family went out for supper tonight and I was asked by a patron and the bartender so now that the Capitals are done for the season I will state how I feel on the City's pursuit of a Q Team.

I am not opposed to private sector development and business attraction; I actually feel quite the opposite. I feel we do not do enough to attract private sector development in Summerside. I think City Council and administration should pursue private sector opportunities for Summerside all the time. We do not have enough well paying jobs in Summerside and we need to do everything we can to attract and keep young families in Summerside (that is why I am on council). With that said, opportunities to me involve the pursuit of higher education programs and adult education for the region, well paying jobs in aerospace and manufacturing, tourism development and government expansion such as the lobby that I was involved with in my first term to move a government department to Summerside (thank you Premier Ghiz and Summerside area MLAs).

With that said, is a Q team a real opportunity for the City? Only if the following variables are in place:

1. No tax payer subsidization- if we subsidize a Q team, we should subsidize all private businesses. No gate guarantees. We do not guarantee Empire Theaters they will sell so many tickets to the movies or guarantee Wendys they will sell so many hamburgers. I will not support the City subsidizing a hockey team with gate guarantees or any subsidies (same goes for the Caps).

2. I would not support a Q team having exclusivity to the main arena or the facility. It is sad enough to see some of our minor sports in Bedeque and I would not want to see more of this. This facility was built by the taxpayers for the taxpayers. My first battle at council and I fought like heck for this was to have a free walking track at the CUP for residents and I do not want to compromise that or see our minor sports shoved out the door.

3. The other variable for me would be to ensure we do not see the demise of our Junior A Team, the Western Capitals. I assure you I am not biased towards the Caps as I do not have a lot of time to attend their games (only went to 3 this year) however, they draw well and provide a place for Islanders to play (I could only make the feeder league Junior B back in the day, their minor leagues as such so maybe I am still bitter) and they have 30 years of tradition in which as a community I am not willing to throw under the bus.

If these three variables are in place and can be assured well I could be convinced -I am all for private business. Then again, I was born, but it wasn't last night! I also do not believe in the Mothman, Bigfoot, Killer Clowns from Outer Space or Alien Abductions either. Highly unlikely a team would be willing to come here without some sort of subsidization and I am opposed to that.