Premier says joint Commonwealth Games bid needs backing of Albertans, doesn't commit to plebiscite
We don't yet know the projected cost or which venues could host events for a potential 2030 Commonwealth Games, but officials say it will be up to Albertans to decide whether to put forth a bid.
However, people shouldn't expect a plebiscite or public vote on the matter, according to the group putting together the pitch and Calgary's mayor.
The group publicly launched its exploratory phase of a possible Alberta bid in early March and will have just months to put together a proposal.
"We have to see that the public is behind it. That's pretty key. We wouldn't want to go forward without broad public support," Premier Danielle Smith said Monday, though she wouldn't go as far as committing to a plebiscite.
"I tend to like to see a proposal before I make a decision on it."
It's complicated to have a public vote, Smith suggested, because several communities are being considered to be part of the bid.
Calgary and Edmonton would host a bulk of the events if Alberta does welcome the games — Tsuut'ina and Canmore could be in the mix, too.
The Alberta 2030 group is working on determining a price tag to bid and host the games.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games, hosted by Birmingham in the U.K., cost more than $1.2 billion.
"Capturing adequately the legacy impacts is difficult," said Matt Lyons, a research fellow at the University of Birmingham who studied the cost and impact of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and other major sporting events.
"One of the things that is generally overlooked is what this money could otherwise have been spent on, really? What is the opportunity cost of this decision?" he said.
It makes it difficult to truly determine whether hosting the Commonwealth Games is really worth it, Lyons said.
"You've got the tourism impact, which is principally what we looked at. It suggested that that brought in around 200 million pounds," Lyons explained.
"But this is quite a narrow estimate. The U.K. government has also produced a report which looked at the wider impacts, and have suggested that the impact is more like 870 million pounds."
The Alberta 2030 group is accepting feedback on its website and says input and participation will be at the core of its effort.
There's no word whether there will be any in-person events hosted by the exploratory group or any level of government to gather public comments.
The bid proposal will be made public by August and a host for the 2030 Commonwealth Games will be picked in November.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.