2026 Olympics- Calgary votes no- 56%

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ice_Weasel

For the no voters reveling in the saltiness of the yes side, I would suggest that the yes side frustration is a culmination of many things, and not just saying no to the Olympics. Its been a death of 1000 cuts in this city. Whether its an arena, a pipeline, flood mitigation, or the olympics, there is just no political leadership to get things accomplished. So I am not going to play the Detroit 2.0 card, but as a life long Calgarian I can tell you my civic pride is at an all time low and I am pretty sure I am not alone.

Then blame the leadership and not the citizens....that's the real answer.

Some of the nonsense on here is amazing.

"hey the guys on the radio disagreed with what i wanted for reasons i hate, so i am never listening to them again or buying products from their advertisers"!!

As petty as it gets and truly juvenile.

Calgarians did not reject anything more than a really bad plan that was even more poorly presented.

[Flamenspiel]

Yea, i Think people just overestimate the impact of media/social media manipulation. People on each side knew what they wanted and the "No" side voted against it because they were simply not into it and did not want to pay for a sports event or the percieved legacy. A perfectly reasonable position and the one espoused by many other cities that turned down the games in the past.

There were also a low percentage who appeared to be against it because they did not get their toy included in the bid. This particular viewpoint included some who wanted an arena, others who wanted affordable housing, LRT, etc.... I don't know about the wisdom of this position and i think it was misguided. My guess is that there will be very low tolerance for anything except a very conservative spending position by the city at this time, that money is off the table now.

[Mr.Coffee]

I was on the No side but my resolve was definitely weakening. I'd definitely reconsidered my position once or twice. I wonder if they'd:

a) started the information campaign earlier or;
b) included the arena everybody has debated for 2+ years and wants for the Flames (don't kid yourself, majority of Calgarians don't want the Flames to leave) or;
c) Had a clear, transparent information platform with easy to understand concepts, numbers and facts or;
d) Had funding models in place well in advance and that all levels of government supported or;
e) Could clearly communicate to voters precisely (or hell, even roughly) how their taxes would be impacted (if it really was $25 or if it really was $2000 or what the hell it actually was?????) or;
f) Clarity on how corruption would not be an issue or;
g) had a united City council

In fairness, I actually do not think 6 months or even 1 year was a lot of time to prepare this. Which is another reason I would be 100% supportive if they went right back to the well, the same team even to prepare for 2034 or 2038 and get their ducks in a row, government aligned and a really precise, accurate, informative campaign with robust clear data. It felt rushed, and that's probably because they were rushed. They didn't communicate at all very effectively how it would impact me and my family.

Furthermore, most Calgarians don't have time to sit down and research (or really want to anymore than passing interest to be honest) all the nuances and BS and sort through all the fake info out there or determine what data is value or not. This is why Calgarians needed accurate facts, verified by media and government alike, and no lipstick on the pig.

As for the Calgary becoming Detroit... yeah. Yeah right now it sure as #### looks like it will be. Which leads me to my main reason for voting no. Lack of proper focus in government;

The number ONE THROUGH TEN priority for the municipal, provincial and federal governments from a Calgarians viewpoint is to get oil and gas support, energy industry support, do everything ####ing possible to get and revive the energy industry in Canada. Support businesses and projects. Lower (or hell guarantee stablization) royalty structures. Speed up processes. Do your jobs and make it easier for companies to not die in Calgary instead of actively acting against it. Listen to your economic leaders and advisers. Your respected economic and financial and business communities, Chambers of Commerce's and hell the ordinary Calgarian. Listen to what people are telling you. That's what this vote was trying to message. It's not that we can't afford the Olympics, it's that we can't stand by and throw a party whilst you idiots continue to mismanage foreign investment. Businesses trying to grow, and turn a blind eye to rising unemployment, vacancies and troubling economic signs.

It's not a call to turn your back on the environment, or even on NIMBY's or special interest groups. It's a call to use your practical side. Use your head. We have lifelong politicians not listening enough, not understanding where people are at, or how their lives are being impacted today and into the future. People at the forefront of industry, watching billions of dollars of value turn to dust or leave the country for no real good reason. Governments turning a blind eye to the US sovereign attack on our finances by paying money to special interest groups and block our energy infrastructure projects for their own selfish gain.

Trudeau should be screaming from the rooftops, tweeting about it hourly. Notley should be showing how serious this is. Nenshi- while limited in ability- should also be constantly echoing these concerns. Spend the money to fly around the country where you are actually beloved and turn hearts and minds to what Canadian energy has done and will do for this country.

So, these are things the government should be passionate about. Not hosting the Olympics. Because by focusing on the economy to which they seemingly have just abandoned, they are impacting every one of us. Property values. Taxes rising to make up for commercial vacancies. Our standard of living, education and health care systems are at significant and material risk of deterioration. But yeah, let's campaign on the Olympics.

Focus is not in the right spot. That's what the No vote is all about in my eyes.

edit: to put a little more perspective here; according to a Financial Post article on November 11, the current differential picture is a pace of losing $100,000,000,000 per year. That's $100B. Global demand is still growing. Oil is Canada's number one export.

How many Olympics does that pay for? How much public benefit and economic stimulation? That pace in 1 year is enough to pay off 10 provincial and 3 territories debts.

That is a staggering number to sneer at, which Canada is currently doing. That is a staggering number to turn our backs on.

[Flamenspiel]

^^ I disagree about the arena, even hockey parents i talk to about this don't want a dime spent on it. Its much more popular on CP then in the general population. If anything in my experience younger people who attend a lot of concerts want the arena more then STH and others i have chatted with.

[Mr.Coffee]

well, looks to me like there was a lot of younger people who voted No.

Would they have changed their vote if the arena was included?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Then blame the leadership and not the citizens....that's the real answer.

Some of the nonsense on here is amazing.

"hey the guys on the radio disagreed with what i wanted for reasons i hate, so i am never listening to them again or buying products from their advertisers"!!

As petty as it gets and truly juvenile.

Calgarians did not reject anything more than a really bad plan that was even more poorly presented.

No transplant. If you voted no you just succumbed to fear apparently. There are no legitimate reasons.

The condescension here from some is hilarious.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by nik-

No transplant. If you voted no you just succumbed to fear apparently. There are no legitimate reasons.

The condescension here from some is hilarious.

Same responses as heard after Brexit...that those who favored the exit were just stupid and uninformed. You will never get people of opposing opinions to have any meaningful discussion or dialogue with those attitudes and responses.

[nik-]

Ehh, except the decision for Brexit were more likely emotional, so it's more of an analog to the Yes side.

They're not good comparisons because the impact is drastically different and there is a lot more vitriol under the surface of a yes to Brexit vote.

I'm just sick of people implying that no voters are some cultureless fools. News flash people, rejection of Olympic bids is happening all over the world. For legitimate reasons.

Stop with the irrational lashing out.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

As for the Calgary becoming Detroit... yeah. Yeah right now it sure as #### looks like it will be. Which leads me to my main reason for voting no. Lack of proper focus in government;

This sentiment is something that appears on both sides I've noticed. Beyond the Olympics, Calgary is at risk.

Doesn't matter if we call Calgary the next Detroit, Buffalo or any crumbling U.S. city; it's simply the symbolism and narrative behind Calgary's fall from grace, something we are all uncomfortable with, want to reverse, and with significant haste.

No one should blame those wanting to use the Olympics to provide both an economic and morale boost; both are injections we need direly in Calgary because it's just been one disappointment and setback after another. Looking for any positive reasoning to save face or feel better should not be a stigmatized exercise of futility.

You are right be concerned about government focus - it seems to be sporadic and self-serving at various levels, especially when multiple different spectrum parties are operating across the country. The bid could have been organized better and, with additional time, Calgary voters could have had more time to digest all the information at hand (both sides). That said, I am not sure this upcoming wave of conservative populism is going to solve anything either - PC's couldn't fix our economy even during the best of times in the last 15 years.

Calgary is in trouble and the City is going to have to compete with other Canadian jurisdictions for people, business, and investment. Anyone who doesn't believe this is putting their heads in the sand. How we get there is going to take really good ideas, patience, and a willingness to re-shift our workforce and expectations, because as recent actions have proven we can't rely on anyone to give us the tools to continue with "business as usual" like we got way too comfortable with in Calgary for so many years.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by nik-

News flash people, rejection of Olympic bids is happening all over the world. For legitimate reasons.

Are the other cities that are turning down the Olympics also turning down federal and provincial funding when they do so?

[DiracSpike]

The difference between Calgary and Detroit/Buffalo/Cleveland/Pittsburgh is that those cities industries were phased out due to market forces. They became too expensive to manufacture their respective goods and failed as a result.

Calgary and Alberta in general produce a product that is still highly sought after across the world but are suffering to continued ambivalence/outright derision from the rest of our "Country". That should piss everyone off. The ROC has actively blocked us from building sensible infrastructure projects that literally every other oil producing country builds. Almost every major port on earth fields hundreds of tanker calls every year but somehow Vancouver is too precious and the risk is too great.

It's one reason I voted no on this, Canada can take their games and ####ing shove it, I'm not incurring additional cost as a taxpayer to supply an Olympics for a country that hates us.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Do you watch the Olympics at home, follow it on social media, or check out their online content for any of the Games, news or events?

It's one thing to not want to give them dollars - it's much harder to not give them any attention that helps them generate revenue. Simply by watching or engaging with them in any way is enabling them to exist.

And if you think the IOC is corrupt, then I hope you aren't going to pay a lick of attention to the World Cup 2026 in Canada with FIFA headlining that event.

So you are willing to tolerate corruption then? In exchange for watching a sport?

Morally I can’t get past that. I know I don’t speak for many there, so I guess it’s just a difference of opinion.

I don’t watch soccer, so “no”, but if it was the KHL or some similar shucksters who harm people putting on a tourney, no I wouldn’t watch that either.

I’m glad the end result is a thumb in the IOC’s eye, even if their conduct wasn’t a primary reason the “no” side won.

I also agree that it sucks some people are taking delight in others who are down because the no side won. Total lack of class there.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

The number ONE THROUGH TEN priority for the municipal, provincial and federal governments from a Calgarians viewpoint is to get oil and gas support, energy industry support, do everything ####ing possible to get and revive the energy industry in Canada. Support businesses and projects. Lower (or hell guarantee stablization) royalty structures. Speed up processes. Do your jobs and make it easier for companies to not die in Calgary instead of actively acting against it. Listen to your economic leaders and advisers. Your respected economic and financial and business communities, Chambers of Commerce's and hell the ordinary Calgarian. Listen to what people are telling you. That's what this vote was trying to message. It's not that we can't afford the Olympics, it's that we can't stand by and throw a party whilst you idiots continue to mismanage foreign investment. Businesses trying to grow, and turn a blind eye to rising unemployment, vacancies and troubling economic signs.

It's not a call to turn your back on the environment, or even on NIMBY's or special interest groups. It's a call to use your practical side. Use your head. We have lifelong politicians not listening enough, not understanding where people are at, or how their lives are being impacted today and into the future. People at the forefront of industry, watching billions of dollars of value turn to dust or leave the country for no real good reason. Governments turning a blind eye to the US sovereign attack on our finances by paying money to special interest groups and block our energy infrastructure projects for their own selfish gain.

Trudeau should be screaming from the rooftops, tweeting about it hourly. Notley should be showing how serious this is. Nenshi- while limited in ability- should also be constantly echoing these concerns. Spend the money to fly around the country where you are actually beloved and turn hearts and minds to what Canadian energy has done and will do for this country.

So, these are things the government should be passionate about. Not hosting the Olympics. Because by focusing on the economy to which they seemingly have just abandoned, they are impacting every one of us. Property values. Taxes rising to make up for commercial vacancies. Our standard of living, education and health care systems are at significant and material risk of deterioration. But yeah, let's campaign on the Olympics.

Focus is not in the right spot. That's what the No vote is all about in my eyes.

edit: to put a little more perspective here; according to a Financial Post article on November 11, the current differential picture is a pace of losing $100,000,000,000 per year. That's $100B. Global demand is still growing. Oil is Canada's number one export.

How many Olympics does that pay for? How much public benefit and economic stimulation? That pace in 1 year is enough to pay off 10 provincial and 3 territories debts.

That is a staggering number to sneer at, which Canada is currently doing. That is a staggering number to turn our backs on.

I could not agree more with your entire post.

Calgary spending $380 million dollars to bribe first nations to get a single pipeline built would've been better use of that money than the Olympics. Whatever it takes, just get it done.

The influx of money to the city from a pipeline (or two) would be magnitudes higher than any sort of net benefit that the Olympics would've brought. Wouldn't even need provincial or federal money.

My civic pride comes from our citizens prospering and definitely it's at an all time low because of the current economic climate. The Olympics don't fix any of that, and depending on who you are, could be a big detriment.

[Snuffleupagus]

Yup, the fruit & berry tree huggers on the west coast can suck it, and if any of them actually drive a car I hope they enjoy their $1.70 litre gas.

Just think, with pipelines to both the east and west coasts Canada would be one of the wealthiest Country's on the planet but instead of cutting down some trees that might displace a few animals for 50 feet or so we would rather spend $17 billion a year to countries like Saudi Arabia that cuts off heads of citizens for things such as non-violent drug charges, robbery and sorcery!(<--what?)

Forget the west coast for a minute, had energy east not been stopped it could have been finished this year and not only would Alberta/Sask oil be fueling Canada's highest population bases we could be selling our oil to western Europe at market value, instead we're in a probable decade long recession...makes me evil just thinking about it.

This country needs real leadership, we need to drain our frozen swamp of the knob-gobblers

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by redforever

Same responses as heard after Brexit...that those who favored the exit were just stupid and uninformed. You will never get people of opposing opinions to have any meaningful discussion or dialogue with those attitudes and responses.

In all fairness to the kippers they are dumb as two short planks, both anecdotally and statistically, Brexit voters were Trump's 'poorly educated'
they also choose to discount the overwhelming evidence that the UK will be massively damaged by Brexit as 'Project Fear', company ceo's have been telling them for several years they will have to shut down and the kippers pretty much stick their fingers in their ears and sing 'I cant hear you'.

[FlamesAddiction]

I didn't vote in this poll and tried not to give a strong opinion as I am not a Calgary resident.

If I was though, I would have voted no. Not a hard no, and I would have been alright having the Olympics, but I would rather not have them in my city.

I lived in Vancouver when they had the Olympics and watched as the budget got out of control. The provincial government ended up funneling money from other areas and as a result, some people lost their jobs.

I don't know if the Olympics had any huge positive effect in the long run. People who would visit there, would go there anyway. The people who live there would have still used the old facilities.

The one thing I liked about Calgary bidding though is that it didn't look like any of the other bids are strong, so even though the bid seemed weak, it had a decent chance I think of being accepted.

Interesting that Quebec City considered bidding but dropped out when Calgary was going to make a bid. I wonder if they enter into it again.

I also wonder how a plebiscite would go on the arena question.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by SebC

Are the other cities that are turning down the Olympics also turning down federal and provincial funding when they do so?

Great question.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Interesting that Quebec City considered bidding but dropped out when Calgary was going to make a bid. I wonder if they enter into it again.

Quebec can't host it until they find a mountain that's tall enough to host the downhill events. There aren't any in Canada east of the Rockies, so they'd have to find one in Maine (or somehow build a fake mountain).

[FireGilbert]

Wouldn't it be impossible to host any Olympics without significant federal funding?

It has been interesting watching the recent rejection of the Winter Olympics with municipal governments interested but higher levels of government either refusing to fund or insisting on a plebiscite. The IOC needs to do a major rethink of the winter games.

[Rutuu]

A sad day for this Calgarian abroad. The No voters sound like the people I met that voted for Brexit. Even more ironic is the attitude they have is the same attitude the rest of Canada has about the pipelines.

I respect the democratic process, but it took me 10mins to look up the numbers from Australia and it sounds like not knowing the figures swayed the deal.

Reminds me of Canada missing out on LNG at the beginning of the decade, its coming around in the next 5yrs now, as will the spirit of the city again. Right now though, yeah, you blew it, but a decade isn't that long to wait to turn it around.