Several city council members voiced concerns over Toronto’s potential Olympic bid at a budget meeting on Monday.
Coun. Gary Crawford, the city’s budget chief, said it may be unwise to spend $50 to 60 million on a bid that might not even succeed.
“I’m starting to look at the fiscal realities and the cost of all that,” Crawford said. “I’m sort of uncomfortable with whether or not that’s something we could achieve.
“I’m not saying no to it at this point, but I’m cautiously stepping back a little bit.”
Toronto has until Sept. 15 to send a letter to the Canadian Olympic Committee expressing an interest in hosting the Games in 2024.
Last month, COC President Marcel Aubut spoke candidly in favour of an Olympics in Toronto, saying he will use the “full power” of his office to support the city if it does bid to host the event.
Many people expressed excitement about a potential bid following the success of the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, but Toronto Mayor John Tory took a cautious approach to the issue, saying it would be “a big decision” requiring “a lot of consultation.”
On Monday, Crawford wasn’t alone in his cautiousness about a potential bid.
Councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam and James Pasternak also expressed their concerns. Coun. John Campbell said the bid would be an “albatross” for the city.
“Rarely do the Olympics produce the sort of ongoing positive benefits with a positive financial outcome for cities,” he said.
The issue of cost appears to be the main concern for most council members. At this point, it’s unclear if the city would be responsible for the full cost of the bid or of other levels of government would contribute, especially because there could possibly be a change in federal government after the October election.
With a report from Natalie Johnson
