The Chronicle Herald reports that on Tuesday Scott Logan, CEO of the Halifax 2014 Commonwealth Games bid committee, acknowledged that the cost of hosting the event is probably going to climb and although the bottom line is still subject to change, it is “likely to be more than (the) $785 million” estimate organizers had been working with.
The newspaper reports that Wednesday media reports pegged the proposed cost at more than $1 billion, saying that both reports quoted an unnamed source close to the bid committee.
Also on Wednesday Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly told The Chronicle Herald he has heard the proposed cost could be close to $2 billion.
The Mayor said he has heard “all kinds” of figures for staging the Games. He said, “I have not seen the final figure. I’ve heard a lot of speculation that it’s anywhere from $900 million all the way up to $1.8 billion and everything in between”.
He said this week, “at this point in time it’s in the hands of the three (government) funding partners. They’ll tell us what they’re prepared to pay”.
He added it was premature to say what the actual cost would be because the three levels of government must go over the figures and agree on a funding formula.
Barry Barnet, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health Promotion, said Nova Scotians should trust the federal government to find the “right-sized” price tag. “We’ve proven to them that we’ve been responsible with their tax dollars by balancing the budget five times in a row and we’re going to continue to do that.
“What I’m asking Nova Scotians is to provide a little faith and some trust that at some future time, not too far off, we’ll be able to disclose the figures for hosting (these) Games”, he told the newspaper.
The Minister said he knows the newest figures but wasn’t prepared to reveal them because it was important not to give Glasgow and Abuja, Halifax’s competitors, an advantage
He added they were looking to the private sector for their involvement. “It’s too early to say there is a ceiling”.
Meanwhile about 130 leading businesses and institutions officially signed on as charter members of the Bring on the Games campaign. Membership implies support of an “affordable bid” on a sound business plan, said committee chairman Don Mills. He said the campaign to bring the Games to Nova Scotia needs widespread community support as an assessment of the final cost continues.
“There is a need for a voice for those prepared to support a big vision of the possibilities for Nova Scotia”, he told about 200 supporters of the Games at a rally-like event.
