Cancel NHL deal and spend more on bringing Canadian tourists to P.E.I., Opposition tells province [Video]

P.E.I.’s Opposition leader continued to pressure the government Wednesday about the money it’s spending to attract visitors from the United States, taking a new tack on getting the province to scrap its controversial contract with the National Hockey League. 

The governing Progressive Conservatives’ multimillion-dollar deal with the NHL saw P.E.I. branded as the league’s official travel destination. It has come under fire from the Liberals, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump wages a trade war with Canada and many other countries.  

During question period in the legislature, interim Liberal Leader Hal Perry asked Tourism Minister Zack Bell if the government would consider cancelling the contract in order to shift more tourism dollars into encouraging Canadians to travel to the Island. 

Bell didn’t answer that question directly, but said the province is always trying to expand its reach when it comes to drawing in new visitors, including Americans.  

“If we can tell those people who we are, at least let them …