SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The feasibility report is done, public meetings wrapped up and now eight city councillors will decide whether to move ahead with hosting the Canada Winter Games in 2023.

Mayor Mark Heyck speaks during a public meeting Jan. 28 at the Explorer Hotel about a potential city bid for the 2023 Canada Winter Games. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo Councillor views on Canada Winter Games Niels Konge: "If we can't host all the Games in its entirety, then I don't think we're the right location frankly." Rommel Silverio: No comment by press time. Julian Morse: "So far in the report, there are some major risks listed. I'm uncomfortable with approving something where the words 'major risks' are associated." Linda Bussey: No comment by press time. Adrian Bell: "More detail would be appreciated there for sure." Rebecca Alty: "For me, it's just not in the cards right now." Shauna Morgan: "People need to look closely at those (benefits) numbers and not just think 'Oh, $50 million, we can't afford it.'" Steve Payne: "It seemed like a pretty biased report ... It seems like the committee was really trying to push for it."

In interviews, most expressed concerns with a potential bid and said there are lingering questions.

The Games, according to a report drafted by a committee of council members, business and community members released a week ago after a year of work, could cost up to $76.7 million when factoring in the cost of an athletes' village.

The report states the city could feasibly host the Games, but there are three main areas of risk including a lack of hotel rooms, recruiting enough volunteers and a lack of a firm commitment from the GNWT to spend an estimated $26 million on an athletes village.

The city's deputy mayor, who was a member of the committee, has determined where she stands.

"For me, it's just not in the cards right now," Coun. Rebecca Alty said. "I don't see anything coming out that would change (my mind)."

She said most of the e-mails she's received from the public on the issue have been against going forward with the Games. She said only a couple were in support.

Alty has taken part in past Games and said events in smaller cities just haven't been as good as those in bigger centres.

Coun. Shauna Morgan said the report highlights potential economic benefits for the city and promotes it as a destination for tourism and future sports events.

"That could be a new sector of the economy that we're building here. It could be a really smart investment at this time," Morgan said.

She wants people go to the city's website and read the report themselves.

"I think we need to have a meaningful public dialogue about this in the next few weeks before council reaches a decision," Morgan said.

She acknowledges the report highlights major risks.

"I think the report is up front about the challenges," she said. "It also says we can overcome the challenges if the community pulls together and is excited about making this work."

Coun. Niels Konge has questioned information provided on the Games from the beginning. Konge won't support a bid unless it's proven there won't be a cost burden for taxpayers.

As someone involved in alpine skiing as a young adult, Konge said cutting that event from the Games because the city doesn't have the facilities isn't fair to athletes.

"If we can't host all the Games in its entirety, then I don't think we're the right location frankly," Konge said.

The report states hosting alpine skiing in Whitehorse or somewhere in Alberta has been ruled out. If the bid goes forward, another sport would need to be substituted in skiing's place.

He has also questioned the use of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) funding, usually spent by the city on infrastructure, to help pay for the cost of the Games.

According to the report, $376,000 of the MACA funding provided to the city over each of the next seven years would be allocated to pay part of the city's cost to host the Games.

Coun. Adrian Bell said he has a lot of questions about the findings of the committee he wants answered when a final version of the report goes to the city's municipal services committee in mid-February.

Asked what kind of questions he has, Bell said he didn't see a lot of detail in the proposed budget and that some assumptions made were unclear.

"So more detail would be appreciated there for sure. Then generally, section by section I have questions about their conclusions," Bell said.

He attended a public meeting Thursday evening but said he didn't get answers he sought.

"We've had far more detailed information than they were able to provide. I can see how it would add value for non-councillors, but for me there was nothing that was really answered there," Bell said, adding he was concerned about the tone of the report and other communications materials by the committee.

"There was a bit more of a sales pitch to the information than I would have liked to see," Bell said.

He wasn't the only councillor who expressed that view.

Coun. Steve Payne suggested there was a "biased" tone in the report.

"It seems like the committee was really trying to push for it," Payne said.

He's gathering more input from the public before taking a firm position on the issue, though he said, "I pretty much know where I'm standing."

Payne said the Games would be great for the city, but as the report highlights, there are significant risks.

Coun. Julian Morse, who has been outside the territory recently, said he has looked at the report but wants more time to dig into the details and hear from the public before coming to a final conclusion. However, from what he's read he does have concerns.

"So far in the report, there are some major risks listed," he said. "I'm uncomfortable with approving something where the words 'major risks' are associated."

Coun. Linda Bussey and Coun. Rommel Silverio did not return requests for comment.

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