A group pushing for a 2025 Toronto Expo is encouraged after Justin Trudeau said Ottawa is ready to “explore next steps” should city council bid to host the event.
Mayor John Tory and members of Expo 2025 Canada wrote to the prime minister in March asking Canada to rejoin the Bureau International des Expositions, the body overseeing world Expos the previous Harper government withdrew from.
The local group on Monday released a responding letter from Trudeau saying “our government is prepared to take next steps” should Toronto decide to bid for the 2025 world’s fair.
But Tory said in a later statement that a provincial and federal funding commitment is required before a bid decision is made.
“I appreciate the support we are seeing for an Expo bid this week but this doesn’t reduce the need for a very honest, sensible discussion of the requirements… in making such an important decision.”
READ MORE: 2025 World Expo bid being explored for Toronto
The announcement comes ahead of a Tuesday meeting of Tory’s executive committee that will consider a staff report warning of major obstacles to a possible 2025 Expo.
That report cautions there is a “condensed timeline” and “extraordinary commitment” of resources needed for an Expo request — namely funding from higher levels of government.
It adds that without those commitments in place, the city “cannot meaningfully or responsibly pursue a bid for the 2025 World Expo without facing significant financial, operational and reputational risks.”
Last year Tory nixed a possible bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, saying the city wasn’t ready, but left the door open to other world events, including an Expo.
Expo 2025 Canada says that the cost of pavilions will be shared jointly by participating countries.
If the city were to win the bid, it would be only Canada’s second official World Expo, after Expo 67 in Montreal, because the event’s regulatory committee classifies Vancouver’s Expo 86 as an “international specialized expo.”
The Expo committee says the event is aimed at showcasing innovation and is held every five years.
WATCH: Mayor John Tory and some city councillors are vying for a Toronto bid to host the 2025 World Expo. Mark McAllister reports.
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