MONTREAL - Federal International Trade Minister Michael Fortier says he is seeking a meeting with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone to try and save the Canadian Grand Prix for 2009.
Fortier met today with Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay and Quebec Economic Development Minister Raymond Bachand to discuss a course of action.
Fortier says the problem appears to stem from a contract dispute between the Montreal race promoters and Ecclestone, who claims he is owed between $10 million and $20 million.
The federal minister says the governments need more information on the financial and legal aspects of the problem.
Speaking earlier in Quebec City, Premier Jean Charest said any intervention by the Quebec government to save the race would be conditional on taxpayers seeing economic spinoffs.
Charest stressed the economic aspect has guided past efforts by the province to keep the Formula One event in Montreal.
The race draws an estimated $100 million per year in revenues and economic spinoffs to the city.
