The president and CEO of Quebecor is making a large pledge toward building a new hockey arena in Quebec City.
Pierre Karl Peladeau announced Sunday night that he has made a "substantial" offer to the capital to help build the proposed $400 million facility.
However he was reluctant to name a specific figure, and only assured that he was willing to co-operate with various levels of government.
"We think we will be a very good partner for the city of Quebec," said Peladeau.
It's a big switch for Peladeau, who as recently as September said he was not willing to spend one dime on an arena.
The Harper government calls the move by Peladeau "a step in the right direction."
In the fall the federal government said it would not build an arena -- designed to be used by a privately-owned hockey team -- at taxpayer expense.
At the time the provincial and municipal government were asking Ottawa to offer $175 million in funding for the new rink.
Regis Labeaume, mayor of Quebec City, says his municipality was willing to pay $50 million of construction costs, while Premier Jean Charest said the province would foot 45 percent of the bill.
A new arena would be vital in bringing an NHL team back to the provincial capital for the first time since the Quebec Nordiques left to become the Colorado Avalanche in 1995
