Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I think it is. This is now unquestionably a "no-bid contract", there is no one but Calgary who has even the slightest federal support. Calgary doesn't need to rush this through, and given what a debacle the process has been, having the plebiscite in the new year when everything has cleared up makes far more sense. But the organizers of the BidCo and YesCalgary are trying to ram this thing through now, hence why they've turned up the emotional push rather than the logical one.

Everyone will have a chance to vote. As such, if people feel the deal doesn't make sense due to its haste, then they just vote no. Council and the BidCo can't ram anything - since the final arbiter will be (for all intents and purposes) the electorate.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Everyone will have a chance to vote. As such, if people feel the deal doesn't make sense due to its haste, then they just vote no. Council and the BidCo can't ram anything - since the final arbiter will be (for all intents and purposes) the electorate.

Well sure...except for the whole "non-binding" part of things.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Well sure...except for the whole "non-binding" part of things.

That's why I qualified it with "for all intents and purposes". But is there a universe in which this group would not follow along with sub 50% vote? I suppose there is a non-zero chance of that, but it's pretty darn close to zero percent chance of that.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Everyone will have a chance to vote. As such, if people feel the deal doesn't make sense due to its haste, then they just vote no. Council and the BidCo can't ram anything - since the final arbiter will be (for all intents and purposes) the electorate.

Everyone will have a chance to vote, just the vast majority of people will have no idea what it is they are truly voting for. Yes, I guess technically the BidCo can't ram anything through (didn't say council at all), they can just engage in a dishonest campaign that isn't about presenting the info, it's about shaping opinions

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057689105017028608

Why are they going to schools again? I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure children still can't vote. But it couldn't be to emotionally manipulate the kids to of course get the parents on board could it? Anyway when I say desperate, this is what I mean. How can anyone not be embarrassed by this whole thing? And the kicker: It's for poverty games!!!! We get basically #### all out of it. What a disgraceful process this has been, for a party the vast majority will be excluded from anyway.

[Hockeyguy15]

I don't want a chance to vote, I would like it cancelled before we get to that point.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Well sure...except for the whole "non-binding" part of things.

Pretty sure the provincial money is contingent on a yes vote. Without the provincial money you don't have the federal money and the bid is dead. They can choose to cancel a bid with a yes vote but I don't see how they can decide to proceed with a no vote.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bunk

That's why I qualified it with "for all intents and purposes". But is there a universe in which this group would not follow along with sub 50% vote? I suppose there is a non-zero chance of that, but it's pretty darn close to zero percent chance of that.

Normally I would say no.

However, why is it there to begin with? That I simply don't understand.

One would think that if you want the electorate to vote and make a decision...you let them vote and make the decision. Which ever side garners the most votes...wins. That's pretty straight forward stuff on these things in most cases...but apparently not good enough for this group.

It's why I have believed since day 1 that this thing was gonna happen.

I'm pretty cynical in regards to this mayor and council though, so yes i have a biased take on it all.

[sleepingmoose]

nm

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Pretty sure the provincial money is contingent on a yes vote. Without the provincial money you don't have the federal money and the bid is dead. They can choose to cancel a bid with a yes vote but I don't see how they can decide to proceed with a no vote.

While this is true, at least in theory, they also required total and complete transparency from the city/bidco etc as a condition as well in the same letter from Ceci to Nenshi and the feds a few weeks back.

Has that seemed to matter?

Again, Im quite jaded as to this entire process and how it has been handled and the numbers that have been bandied about. I admit that.

I just dont see a 55-45 type vote against it all, being an actual stumbling block to Nenshi getting this thing done. and the only reason i say this is why even have a non-binding rider attached to it to begin with?

[Weitz]

nm

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I just dont see a 55-45 type vote against it all, being an actual stumbling block to Nenshi getting this thing done. and the only reason i say this is why even have a non-binding rider attached to it to begin with?

If the province holds firm on the vote being yes in order to get their funding, then we are probably a bit safer.

I have ZERO doubt that in the event of a no vote where the province had no strings attached, Nenshi would be the first one saying that voter turnout was low and not representative of all Calgarians and that they would hold a council vote to move ahead. Keep in mind that these are the same people deliberately targeting children in order to try and influence their parent's votes and have no issues with a flawed voting system.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by transplant99

While this is true, at least in theory, they also required total and complete transparency from the city/bidco etc as a condition as well in the same letter from Ceci to Nenshi and the feds a few weeks back.

Has that seemed to matter?

Again, Im quite jaded as to this entire process and how it has been handled and the numbers that have been bandied about. I admit that.

I just dont see a 55-45 type vote against it all, being an actual stumbling block to Nenshi getting this thing done. and the only reason i say this is why even have a non-binding rider attached to it to begin with?

Non-binding works both ways. They don’t have to continue with the bid should something major change even if there’s a yes vote.

[JoseCuervo]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I don't want a chance to vote, I would like it cancelled before we get to that point.

A lot of dumb things have been said by the no side in this thread but this takes the cake.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Non-binding works both ways. They don’t have to continue with the bid should something major change even if there’s a yes vote.

I cannot remotely see that happening at all.

The parties involved have shown me that they'll obfuscate and hide whatever numbers and "creatively add or subtract costs" on whatever they need to ram things through regardless.

That vote is the last, faint line in the sand.

[chemgear]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057698526811975680

[nik-]

I really hate this misleading garbage. These decisions should be made with honest facts.

[BlackArcher101]

Yes, I'm sure ALL income from the games, contracts handed out and wages earned will totally stay in Calgary.

[CaptainCrunch]

Kill this bid, actually take the time to put competant people on an olympic bid and push it back a few years.


This whole thing has been a gong show of dishonesty and deception.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Didn't the feds already provide matching dollars for the Green line?

If not, this is a great idea. Put the line into the games bucket and get some extra matching dollars.

They both did, to the tune of ~ $1.5 billion each which I think is based on the traditional 1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3 funding model. Maybe the City's angle here on the Green Line is trying to leverage more federal dollars for the project than they may have otherwise given under the original funding model. For example if the Feds are saying they will match the combined funding commitment of the City and the Province, then maybe the City tries to turn that into $3b from the feds for the Green line rather than $1.5.

[RM14]

- $4.4 billion into the local economy, creating jobs, prosperity and growth
- $1 billion in wages for Calgarians – 15,400 jobs
- The City of Calgary would need to invest $390 million
- For every dollar Calgary invests, it gets $10 in return