Just happened to catch The Agenda with Steve Paikin last night. You will recall Steve is the very able federal election debate moderator. Last night his show looked at the moving of the Phoenix Coyotes to Southern Ontario.

At one point, Mr. Paikin makes the assumption that a new NHL hockey team in Ontario would bring untold economic benefits (around 19:30 in). 

Thankfully, Dr. Dan Mason of the University of Alberta was there to set the record straight, and explain how entertainment dollars are merely shifted around, and there is no true economic benefit.

Mr. Paikin could not wrap his head around this fact, and asked the rest of them to corroborate Dr. Mason's claim.  Even after they, mostly, do back up this claim, Mr. Paikin still doesn't sound convinced (26:30).

If smart, informed people like Mr. Paikin can't fully grasp this fact, I fear we might see Katz/Laforge and co. continue to make these claims of "found money."

By: Scott Hennig
Posted: September 22, 2009
Topic: Alberta

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