Vancouver Olympic Committee head John Furlong said the federal government isn't overstepping its boundaries, after a memo revealed Ottawa will give $20 million to the 2010 Olympic Games -- a contribution meant to ensure the opening ceremonies help establish Canada's domestic and international branding goals.
The memo, marked "secret," was obtained by the Globe and Mail, under an access-to-information request.
"I would say the federal government has the same view on this as we do," VANOC head Furlong said in an interview with CTV Canada AM Friday. "We want to do a stunning job of staging great ceremonies at BC place in 2010. We need to represent the interests of the country in the most beautiful, poignant and emotional way.
"We want to tell a great story and that's who we are and I think that's what they expect of us," he said from Beijing where he is currently taking notes on the summer Games.
However, the memo also suggests that the "conditions associated with the investment" will allow them to have a greater say on VANOC's plans.
"These conditions will ensure that the department has appropriate input and oversight into VANOC's ceremony planning," it says.
Furlong said they have been working all along with senior members of government and that they are all working together to plan the Olympics.
When was asked whether the government would have the power to veto any decision, Furlong replied: "No, that's not true at all."
"They have many people involved with us in many ways and they're working hard with us to make sure we do the very best with the resources we have," he added. "We're working very well together and I just think the federal government like any other partner we have, wants to make sure we perform at a very high level."
The memo is dated Feb. 5, 2008 and was distributed less than three weeks before federal cabinet Minister David Emerson announced the $20-million commitment.
It was sent to Judith LaRocque, Canada's deputy heritage minister and talked about points of discussion at an upcoming meeting with Emerson, his staff and VANOC members.
The memo states that the government "intends to invest $20 million towards the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in order to ensure that the event adequately reflects the priorities of the Government and helps to achieve its domestic and international branding goals."
Bruce Kidd, , a former Olympian and the dean of phys-ed at the University of Toronto, said the memo is worrisome because of the way it is worded.
Kidd, who is also a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said the wording suggests the Tories could impose a theme that with their socially conservative values, demonstrated recently in their plans to cut millions in spending on arts and culture.
In an interview with CTV.ca, Kidd said the real question is what word would be imposed in exchange for the $20 million.
"Is it direction? Control? Veto? It's all much more suggestive," he said.
Deirdra McCracken, a spokesperson for James Moore, secretary of state for the 2010 Olympics, said it's only natural that the government want a say in how tax dollars are spent.
"Our government wants to ensure that Canada's goals are achieved through the opening ceremonies. Naturally, we will want to be involved in the planning, especially if we have invested taxpayers' money," she said in an interview with the Globe.
Kidd said that he is reassured by Furlong's comments to CTV and noted that the memo only demonstrates one side of the conversation.
"The memo is one piece of communication but the truth of the matter is that we didn't see what John Furlong said back and maybe the confident message he has given follows a reply to this memo," he said.
"These kinds of debates go back and forth over locations, contracts, the legacy," he continued. "These kinds of negotiations are ongoing and it will probably occur until the torch is snuffed out in Vancouver in 2010. It will probably even affect the final report. But this happens in every country."
