CALGARY, AB: On November 2, the federal Minister of Science and Sport, Kristy Duncan, confirmed that the federal government is not responsible for overruns, according to their hosting policy. This follows a prior confirmation by the Alberta government to not provide any more than $700 million for the 2026 Olympics.

“With other levels of government not willing to pick up overruns, Calgarians are now on the hook for any and all Olympic cost overruns. And cost overruns have been the rule not the exception with the Olympics,” said Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s (CTF’s) Alberta Director, Franco Terrazzano. “We can’t afford the games even in the best-case scenario, there’s no way Calgary can afford to cover cost overruns too.”

According to Minister Kristy Duncan, “Within our federal hosting policy, we’re not responsible for cost overruns.” The Alberta government’s Finance Minister Joe Ceci has made similar remarks: “The government of Alberta will not be able to provide any additional funds that may be required, including those to cover revenue shortfalls or cost overruns.”

Since the 1960s, 19 Olympics have gone over budget, averaging 156 per cent cost overruns. Canadian-hosted Olympics have been no stranger to these overruns either: Vancouver 2010 saw a cost overrun of 13 per cent, Calgary 1988 had one of 65 per cent and Montreal saw a staggering 720 per cent cost overrun, with their games taking three decades to pay off.

“Other governments are not willing to pick up the tab and it’s laughable to think an insurance company will cover frivolous spending,” continued Terrazzano. “To go forward with these Olympics, Calgarians will have to write a blank cheque to the IOC.”

The CTF is urging Calgarians to oppose writing a blank cheque to the IOC by voting NO in the Calgary-wide plebiscite on November 13.