British Columbia鈥檚 New Democrat government is holding firm on its decision not to host games during the FIFA 2026 World Cup, citing the risk to taxpayers.
Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Wednesday reiterating her government鈥檚 concern that 鈥渢axpayers are not on the hook for hidden costs.鈥�
鈥淭he FIFA bid agreement contained clauses, which (B.C.'s) government felt left taxpayers at unacceptable risk of additional costs,鈥� Beare said.
鈥淲e tried very hard to get assurances that addressed our concerns,鈥� she added.
that the joint bid between Canada, the United States and Mexico for the 2026 had triumphed over Morocco鈥檚.
There will be 10 games over 32 days in Canada.
Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal are all planning to be host cities.
Vancouver, one of only three Canadian cities with a Major League Soccer team, was on board with the bid, but it hinged on the provincially owned stadium, BC Place.
Beare said earlier this year that FIFA鈥檚 demand that it be able to 鈥渦nilaterally change the stadium agreement at any point鈥� was too much of a risk for B.C.
Shortly after North America was announced as the hosts Tuesday, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson asked Alberta, which has a debt expected to reach $71 billion by 2020, to provide funding for infrastructure, security and transportation costs.
Alberta has previously said it won鈥檛 pay to host the games.
The federal government has said it will put at least $5 million toward the event but far more is needed.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is not running for re-election, has said that he was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� by the decision.
"Major sporting events often have challenges around costs and managing financial risk,鈥� he said. 鈥淗owever, the city was all-in and hopeful that the federal and provincial governments would be able to arrive at a fair deal.鈥�
British Columbians have long debated whether international sporting events are worth the cost. looking at the impacts of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics found that it cost $7.78 billion, mostly from taxpayers. However, it also created jobs and left behind infrastructure like the Canada Line train.
Montreal, whose 1976 Olympic Stadium took 20 years to pay off, is expected to spend about $69 million on the games.
Quebec has set aside up to $300 million to replace the
鈥榃e don鈥檛 want to lose ... to FIFA鈥�
Declan Hill, a professor of investigations in the college of criminology justice and forensic sciences at the University of New Haven in Connecticut, told 麻豆传媒 Channel Wednesday that taxpayers ought to be cautious when dealing with FIFA, noting convictions on corruption charges in the past.
鈥淎s a taxpayer and as a person that鈥檚 seen the operations of FIFA close at hand, I鈥檓 saying, everybody, let鈥檚 take a break and be very careful how we sign contracts with this institution,鈥� said Hill, who wrote The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime.
Hill said the local organizing committees need to have 鈥渢op cops ... top forensic accountants (and) top democratic accountability people.鈥�
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to lose, as the taxpayers, to FIFA,鈥� he added.
No beer during early morning games
Some soccer fans in British Columbia are also disappointed that their government hasn鈥檛 followed Alberta鈥檚 lead on alcohol during this year鈥檚 World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday in Russia.
that liquor can be served during early morning World Cup games when bars would normally be required to stop serving.
Vancouver restaurant owner Janine Spartano, who has brought in extra TVs and a special breakfast pizza option for 6 a.m. games, told CTV Vancouver was disappointed to learn she can鈥檛 serve alcohol outside regular hours.
With files from CTV Vancouver, CTV Montreal and The Canadian Press
