Estimates for past Canada Winter Games far lower than final costs
'It cannot have an impact on people who live here,' says city councillor
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 23, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city could be shelling out more than anticipated for the Canada Winter Games, if history is any indication.
Yellowknife's Kent Nilson delivers a rock during action in the men's curling competition at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax on Feb. 21, 2011. The City of Yellowknife is in the process of figuring out the logistics of hosting the 2023 Games. - Kevin Hall photo |
The City of Whitehorse, which hosted the Games in 2007, received a "rough" estimate from the Canada Games Council at around $31 million, but its final expenditures exceeded $90 million, and the City of Prince George, B.C. - set to host the games next month - received an estimated $36 million budget, but its total expenditures to date is $47 million and counting, according to Sue Hylland, the council's CEO.
Hylland said Whitehorse ended up paying so much more because its capital costs - around $68 million - included the construction of a Canada Games Complex, and this year's host also incurred $11 million in extra capital costs - beyond what is committed by federal, territorial and municipal governments.
Under funding framework developed by the council, 35 per cent of final operational costs are picked up by the federal government, 35 per cent from the territory or province and the rest is raised by the host city. Yellowknife's estimated total cost - provided by the Games council - is $35.8 million, with $26.8 million in operating costs, and $9 million in capital costs.
Rather than being split by a percentage like the operational costs, capital costs are already set - with $3 million from both federal and territorial levels of government, $3 million by the city - and the city is responsible for any costs above $9 million.
"Anything over and above that, you've got to figure that out," said Hylland.
Patrick Kenny, director of marketing and communications for the Canada Games Council, said an established framework determines the amount being paid by government partners. He said two site visits have been made to Yellowknife, looking at infrastructure and determining where capital investments would have to be made.
Hylland, who was present for one of the council's visits, said the city is within the $9 million three-way commitment made to cover capital costs, with the exception of the athletes' village and swimming pool, which aren't included in the estimate. The GNWT has indicated it might pay for the housing complex, and the city had already decided to rebuild the pool by 2023.
"I think that's the right way to look at it," she said.
She said the formula calculating estimates was adjusted leading into the 2011 Games, and that in the case of the Whitehorse Games, the capital contributions were set at $2 million from federal, territorial, and municipal governments.
"Back then our estimates were lower," she said. "That's since changed, to the benefit of everyone."
Kenny said bids are usually due four years prior to the opening ceremonies. Hylland said in Yellowknife's case, the bid is due late this fall after the municipal election.
If the city decides not to host, the council needs time to find another city, said Hylland. She said it's not a competitive bid - no other cities are vying for the 2023 Games. The onus is on the city and the territory to prove they are capable of holding the multi-sport event, she said. City councillor Linda Bussey said the project will be one of the hardest issues she will have to deal with if she's re-elected. She said hosting the Games would put the spotlight on the city but that paying for it must not fall on taxpayers' backs.
"It cannot have a financial impact on people who live here," she said.
