It appears that Canmore is tagging along in the City of Calgary’s 2026 Olympic bid process, but news that a plebiscite is going to have to happen for financial support of the process leaves more questions than answers.
Canmore council voted on Tuesday night (April 3) to join a Bid Corporation being officially formed, but it was not a ringing endorsement of our elected officials – it lacked enthusiasm and set the tone that the process so far has not inspired enthusiasm in our elected officials.
Instead it was an acknowledgement that without a seat at the table, Canmore has no say, or skin in the game, if you would.
Thankfully for taxpayers in the valley the continuation of this process does not actually require any further investment than the $200,000 already allocated.
But as Albertans and Canadians, we are all now on the hook for $20 million between those two levels of government confirmed last week for the establishment of the Bid Corporation. City of Calgary taxpayers are already into the game to the tune of $9.5 million.
The fact that provincial money is requisite upon a plebiscite is an interesting new twist. So far, officials at the City and Town of Canmore have steered the process decidedly away from a plebiscite. Canmore has been clear it had no intention of asking citizens to provide a yes or no answer, instead deferring to elected officials whose job description includes making decisions for the future of the community.
A plebiscite requirement is a well-played political move on the part of the province, forcing the process to actually engage the public and create transparency. In 2003, when Vancouver held its plebiscite, the bid book with all its business plans, numbers and details were made available to the public to base their decision on.
Like the rest of this process, the idea of a plebiscite also lacks details around how exactly it would unfold. Would the process require a vote in Canmore? City officials have wooed the community as a co-host site, but as of yet it isn’t clear if asking citizens if they support an Olympic bid would include Canmore in the process.
If Canmore is to be considered a key partner in this process, a plebiscite should occur in the Bow Valley as well. But before citizens are asked if they support a 2026 Olympic bid, more fulsome disclosure is needed from those in charge of this process, and the soon to be established Bid Corporation.
While estimates so far peg the games at a $4.6 billion price tag, without full cost details, hosting plans and the business case being made, it is impossible for anyone to know the full economic and social impact of such an event until those who are driving this process make it available.
It is no wonder some are losing faith in the process, with reports being mistakenly released by city officials, and elected officials expressing concern that full disclosure has not occurred. Good decision making requires information and a plebiscite is simply that – another form of information for elected officials to consider when they decide if they should bid or not.
If it takes a plebiscite to elicit the level of detail officials and citizens need, then that is a victory for transparency and should absolutely include Canmore in it if we are to play co-host to Calgary’s Olympic dream.
