Cirque du Soleil needs to stay in Montreal, Philippe Couillard says

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillardappealed to the CEO of Cirque du Soleil on Thursday to keep the company's headquarters in Montreal, even ifthe circus ends up beingsold.

• CirqueduSoleildownplays reports it could be sold

"Iwant to issue a particular appeal to Guy Lalibert, who is the main shareholder in thistransaction,"Couillardsaid.

"Iwant to tell him that for Quebecers, for the government and for all political parties represented here, it is very important not only that the headquarters remains in Montreal but that the creative activities should also remain in Montreal."

On Wednesday, The Globe and Mail reported that the Montreal-based circus could be sold in the near future.

According to the report,bidders have been given until next week to submit offers for a controlling stake in CirqueduSoleilGroup.

The newspaper cited sources as saying Laliberte has agreed to sell all but 10 per cent of his share.

Circus seeks'strategic partner'

Rene-ClaudeMnard, senior director of public relations for Cirque du Soleil, told CBC News the company began looking for a "strategic partner" last summer.

"This is a very long process and [founder and majority shareholder] GuyLalibertwill take the time necessary to evaluate all availableoptions,"Mnardsaid.

The circus was founded by Lalibert,Gilles Ste-Croix andDaniel Gauthier in 1984.

Laliberte owns 90 per cent of the internationally renownedCirque, with the rest controlled by investors in Dubai.

PQ raises concerns

During Question Period in Quebec's National Assembly, Parti Qubcois leadership candidate Pierre Peladeau described theCirqueas "Quebec's international calling card.''

He also said the government has known for months thatLalibertintended to sell off a huge chunk of his shares, but that it has remained silent.

Peladeau wanted to know what was being done to keep theCirquein the hands of Quebecers.

Jacques Daoust, the minister of economy and innovation, replied that a Quebec group has been involved "for a while."

"I can say that confidentially, there are Quebecers who are serious (and) who are at the heart of this transaction,"he added.