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Quebec City’s NHL bid has a former Canadian prime minister on its side

Brian Mulroney, Gary Bettman

Brian Mulroney, Gary Bettman

AP

Quebec City’s NHL expansion bid was aided by a pretty heavy hitter today in New York, as former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney was on hand to represent Quebecor.

Mulroney, who retired from politics in 1993, currently sits on Quebecor’s board of directors.

Reporters caught up with Mulroney after Quebecor delivered its pitch to the NHL’s executive committee:

Mulroney added that things are now in the NHL’s hands, and that it’s their process to control.

In the past, Mulroney has called NHL commissioner Gary Bettman “bold, daring and visionary,” a compliment the commissioner returned by saying, “everybody would vote for you again if they had the chance.”

So yes, there’s a relationship there -- one that’s been cultivated by Mulroney, an expert in doing just that. He was Canada’s prime minister from September of 1984 to June of 1993, during which time he forged strong relationships with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Related: Vegas also makes pitch