UFC Lobbying for Federal Criminal Code Change in Canada
UFC LOOKS TO EX-PREMIER FOR HELP IN GETTING MMA TO ONTARIO The UFC has turned to some heavyweight help in…
UFC LOOKS TO EX-PREMIER FOR HELP IN GETTING MMA TO ONTARIO
The UFC has turned to some heavyweight help in its bid to hold a show in Toronto.
The mixed martial arts juggernaut has engaged former Ontario premier David Peterson and his Cassells Brock & Blackwell law firm to help lobby the Ontario government to sanction the sport. Peterson, a senior partner and chairman of the Toronto law firm, is also leading the bid to bring the 2015 Pan American Games to Toronto.
On the federal front, the UFC is using the services of the Capital Hill Group, a lobbyist that specializes “in building constructive, mutually beneficial partnerships between business and government,” according to its website
The UFC hopes Ottawa will amend the Criminal Code to expand the section that permits boxing to include mixed martial arts.
Different jurisdictions have taken different approaches to MMA in Canada, meaning shows are staged in some areas but not others.
The UFC has held two successful shows to date in Montreal and hopes to add Vancouver to its list of host cities next June. Company officials have already met with B.C. and Vancouver politicians, with city council still needing to give its approval to allow an MMA show. Yet, Victoria allowed an MMA event last month.
A spokesman for Ontario’s Ministry of Consumer Services said this week there was nothing new to report on the MMA front. But in recent months the provincial government has sounded more open to the sport, saying it was monitoring MMA. That’s a change from the hardline stance adopted earlier by Ontario Athletic Commissioner Ken Hayashi, who said the Criminal Code tied his hands when it came to allowing MMA.
The UFC, which constantly talks up its Canadian fans, envisions attracting a record crowd in Toronto once the sport is sanctioned there.