Press release
Loss of the Grand Prix: A difficult but responsible decision
Montréal, November 16, 2008 The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has learned with regret that the Canadian Grand Prix race will definitely be dropped from the 2009 Formula One schedule.
Of course the loss of the Grand Prix is bad news for Montréal's economy and a great disappointment to the city's business community. That said, despite our disappointment, we must recognize that all three levels of government and the Montréal business community made an all-out effort to save the race, and we have every reason to believe that these decision makers made a responsible decision by refusing to meet the unreasonable demands of Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, declared Roger Plamondon, acting president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Under these circumstances, the Board of Trade wishes to thank Gérald Tremblay, Raymond Bachand, Michael Fortier, and, more recently, Christian Paradis, for their determined efforts to save the Grand Prix. We can rest assured that every attempt was made to preserve this event, and we must now capitalize on the momentum created by the mobilization of all these players to generate new initiatives to create another large-scale event in Montréal, concluded Plamondon.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca