[News] Canadian and Albertan government will support Calgary in $30 mil 2026 Olympics bid

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

a linked story on the Calgary herald twitter feed (sorry, I can't find the story on the heralds website page and I can't even find the tweet anymore) seemed to suggest that most of the polled seem to want the games; however, they seem to feel differently when it comes to paying for them

Well yeah, that's the answer to every poll about public projects ever.

Q: Would you like to see the city/province/country go ahead with [spectacular cool thing]?

A: Yes!

Q: Would you approve of [spectacular cool thing] if it means higher taxes or cuts to other projects and services?

A: No!

[Muta]

A big part of me wants the Olympics because it will kick-start movement on an arena and get us some other badly-needed sports facilities built in Calgary. Also, this is the one chance we have to get money from the federal government before they go back to ignoring us again and pretending we don't exist. We need to pillage their coffers within the small window of opportunity that we have!

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

As a home owner in Calgary the Olympics terrify me. Property taxes will be insane for the next 20 yearsif this goes ahead...


However as a fan of sports in this city and if this somehow fixes the crowchild and Kensington debacle we currently have then I’m excited...

Originally Posted by Bunk

The sources of funding, I doubt, will have much to do with property taxes.

Most of it will come from capital programs (which aren't from property taxes by and large), Olympic revenue, provincial funding and federal funding.

Yeah, the math I saw/looked at said that basically each resident would end up paying about $100-$150 more per year for the next 10 years. And in return, we get a new arena, a completed Green Line, facelift to already world-class sports venues, and a 2-week party on top of that!

For that price, I am very comfortable saying yes in a plebiscite.

[CPK80]

Originally Posted by Muta

A big part of me wants the Olympics because it will kick-start movement on an arena and get us some other badly-needed sports facilities built in Calgary. Also, this is the one chance we have to get money from the federal government before they go back to ignoring us again and pretending we don't exist. We need to pillage their coffers within the small window of opportunity that we have!

I think this is the important part... I always here we always give more money to the rest of Canada and never get any back... but then when we have the opportunity to receive funding we fight against it.

Many people state that we can better spend the money on other projects, but it is not like the provincial and federal governments are like, oh you are not hosting Olympics here is 4 billion to spend anyway.

Chris

[Willi Plett]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

Yeah, the math I saw/looked at said that basically each resident would end up paying about $100-$150 more per year for the next 10 years. And in return, we get a new arena, a completed Green Line, facelift to already world-class sports venues, and a 2-week party on top of that!

For that price, I am very comfortable saying yes in a plebiscite.

Except some of the proposals suggested we should just use the dome and no new arena. So what if we vote yes but then are illustrious leaders spend on Olympic security and yadayada with little or nothing to show for it in legacy infrastructure?

Honestly I’d rather vote no then. On the flip side, our marvy mayor could reconsider everything, say hey Rachel how about some carbon tax money to clean up a horrifying old environmental mess, and we could have a world class arena and stadium for Olympic hosting. So give me a vote but with a few yes options then...

[Northendzone]

that is likely where the plebiscite question(S) will get muddled.

there needs to be clarity about what the $4 billion price tag for the games is actually paying for, and who will be responsible for the inevitable cost overruns.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The sources of funding, I doubt, will have much to do with property taxes.

Most of it will come from capital programs (which aren't from property taxes by and large), Olympic revenue, provincial funding and federal funding.

And that provincial and federal funding will come from our income taxes. Really, it's all the same source - taxpayers. Money we spend on the Olympics will be money we don't spend on something else.

Canada has an estimated $123 billion infrastructure deficit, so it's not as though there aren't hundreds of important projects in need of funding. People need to given a clear choice of what they will be giving up in order pay for the Olympics - less spending on roads, public transit, ports, bridges, airports, etc.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The sources of funding, I doubt, will have much to do with property taxes.

Most of it will come from capital programs (which aren't from property taxes by and large), Olympic revenue, provincial funding and federal funding.

Would current City Council, affirm that?

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The sources of funding, I doubt, will have much to do with property taxes.

Most of it will come from capital programs (which aren't from property taxes by and large), Olympic revenue, provincial funding and federal funding.

I hope you are right but I remain skeptical.

Sochi was estimated to be 4.5bil but came in north of 60bil so even if we account for huge amounts of corruption I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the cost of the Calgary games would be in the 10-15bil range or 2-3 times the current budgeted amount.

Until I see the details I’m gonna remain very leary of any “budget”

[calf]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Well yeah, that's the answer to every poll about public projects ever.

Q: Would you like to see the city/province/country go ahead with [spectacular cool thing]?

A: Yes!

Q: Would you approve of [spectacular cool thing] if it means higher taxes or cuts to other projects and services?

A: No!

I wonder if the question could be done in a way to see what % people would accept.

Say, give a range of 0% increase in taxes (or service/capital cuts), 0-5%, 5-10%, etc.


Pretend that 30% of voters vote no increase, and 25% vote 0-5%, and 45% vote for 5-10%. If the estimates come in and say "these Olympics would result in an increase in taxes of 2.5%", then you go ahead since 70% of voters are ok with it. If the estimates come in at 7% increase, you pull the bid since only 45% of voters are ok with it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

And that provincial and federal funding will come from our income taxes. Really, it's all the same source - taxpayers. Money we spend on the Olympics will be money we don't spend on something else.

Canada has an estimated $123 billion infrastructure deficit, so it's not as though there aren't hundreds of important projects in need of funding. People need to given a clear choice of what they will be giving up in order pay for the Olympics - less spending on roads, public transit, ports, bridges, airports, etc.

I have it on good authority that nobody cares about fiscal deficits.

If the Federal and Provincial Governments want to spend money frivolously anyways I'd prefer they spend it frivolously here.

[Cappy]

If there is a plebiscite, I would vote no; but, if we end up having the Olympics i wouldn't lose sleep over it.

I still don't think its a good use of public funds and some of the speeches about "supporting athletes and sport" are flat out dumb (we support them year round with government funds). Give your actual reasons for wanting them here, it's ok to be selfish. Save the rhetoric for your political campaigns.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I hope you are right but I remain skeptical.

Sochi was estimated to be 4.5bil but came in north of 60bil so even if we account for huge amounts of corruption I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the cost of the Calgary games would be in the 10-15bil range or 2-3 times the current budgeted amount.

Until I see the details I’m gonna remain very leary of any “budget”

Neither Sochi, Rio, or Beijing are comparable to what Calgary is trying to do.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I hope you are right but I remain skeptical.

Sochi was estimated to be 4.5bil but came in north of 60bil so even if we account for huge amounts of corruption I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the cost of the Calgary games would be in the 10-15bil range or 2-3 times the current budgeted amount.

Until I see the details I’m gonna remain very leary of any “budget”

Originally Posted by RM14

Neither Sochi, Rio, or Beijing are comparable to what Calgary is trying to do.

Yep, comparing Calgary to Sochi, or even Rio and Beijing is like comparing apples to oranges.

Why I'm very much in favour of the bid, and believe the projected costs would be reasonable, and fairly close to the actual costs, is that Calgary already has the fondation infrastructure in place, that we'll make use of before the games, during the games, and afterwards. We get the benefits of a few new facilities that are necessary and wanted, as well update on the current ones that we do already have to ensure they can continued to be used for decades to come.

As mentioned in this thread, the university was a huge benefitor from the previous Olympics. Doing this again in 2026 should be no different, since it's in dire need for massive renovations and expansions to it's kinesiology/recreation facility, as well get upgrades to the Olympic Oval (which gets tons of international use), and the foothill fieldhouse.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Muta

A big part of me wants the Olympics because it will kick-start movement on an arena and get us some other badly-needed sports facilities built in Calgary. Also, this is the one chance we have to get money from the federal government before they go back to ignoring us again and pretending we don't exist. We need to pillage their coffers within the small window of opportunity that we have!

True story: The bid is due in 2019
True story: There's a federal election in 2019
Truest story: The CPC and LPC will be vote buying in BC, Ontario and Quebec, and won't give the slightest hairy ass #### about Alberta since 95-100% of the seats are already decided (like now, 18 months out, we know what will happen)

People need to stop ignoring that. Federal money is a longshot in my opinion, bordering on impossible. We simply don't matter electorally, nevermind the NDP being gone and unable to promise anything.

[Hackey]

I maybe watched 5 minutes total of these recent Olympics. Use the money elsewhere.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Yep, comparing Calgary to Sochi, or even Rio and Beijing is like comparing apples to oranges.

Why I'm very much in favour of the bid, and believe the projected costs would be reasonable, and fairly close to the actual costs, is that Calgary already has the fondation infrastructure in place, that we'll make use of before the games, during the games, and afterwards. We get the benefits of a few new facilities that are necessary and wanted, as well update on the current ones that we do already have to ensure they can continued to be used for decades to come.

As mentioned in this thread, the university was a huge benefitor from the previous Olympics. Doing this again in 2026 should be no different, since it's in dire need for massive renovations and expansions to it's kinesiology/recreation facility, as well get upgrades to the Olympic Oval (which gets tons of international use), and the foothill fieldhouse.

It’s naive to ignore recent IOC projects and cost overruns regardless of the circumstances and to say that “what Calgary is trying to do is different” is great but I’m skeptical... lots of people still see the Olympics as a major windfall and I just am exercising caution.

Hopefully we do come out of it with an awesome revamp and kick start of necessary infrastructure projects and all under or on budget.

But my experience working on projects in Oil & Gas and public sector have jaded me to the under budget promise... especially when there is a set deadline timewise.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I hope you are right but I remain skeptical.

Sochi was estimated to be 4.5bil but came in north of 60bil so even if we account for huge amounts of corruption I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the cost of the Calgary games would be in the 10-15bil range or 2-3 times the current budgeted amount.

Until I see the details I’m gonna remain very leary of any “budget”

Came here to see some common sense left happy!

[Hockey Fan #751]

Why would we compare to Sochi and not, you know, our own country Canada/Vancouver?

[Reneeee]

Because the anti-olympic folks need to pull the most extreme example to try and get their point across. An estimate is simply just an estimate. Everybody knows that.

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Why would we compare to Sochi and not, you know, our own country Canada/Vancouver?