MONTREAL - NDP Leader Jack Layton says he'd spend federal money to bring the Canadian Grand Prix back.
Speaking on the Montreal morning television show Salut Bonjour, Layton said the event is very important -- and not just for fans of motor racing.
He says the event is important to the local economy.
He says an NDP government would partner with the city and the province of Quebec to help restore the event to the motor racing calendar.
The sport's governing body -- the FIA -- announced earlier this week that the Grand Prix would be dropped from the Formula One calendar in 2009.
A race spokesman said the event was dropped because of a "commercial disagreement" between FIA and the promoter and that F1 officials demanded a steep increase in fees that were not feasible for the market.
Representatives from three levels of government said Thursday they want a look at the books before they commit to any public money to save the Montreal race.
Federal Trade Minister Michael Fortier, Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay and Quebec Economic Development Minister Raymond Bachand said they were still trying to get all the facts on why the event was yanked.
