Just a short post – but this is a huge story with many aspects and I had way more information than fit into my story.
The basics are that some new documents have come out via Ken Rubin in Ottawa, who made an access to information request. The documents show there was discussion about why the Edmonton Expo Bid 2017 lost the Federal Government's support. The Feds said it was the 1 billion dollar security price tag (though there are conflicting reports about how much that figure would have actually been)…these documents show that two other reasons might have been at play: 1) The theme – energy – 'required more development' 2) there could be jealousy or feelings of "Western Envy" from other parts of the country. Some pretty loaded ideas.
I spoke to a number of people for this story and everyone had a lot of relevant information. First, Ruth Kelly, who was on the board and acted in the capacity of Chair of the sponsorship committee. She said she didn't think there were any big swells of anti-Edmonton sentiment across the country…and, in fact, mayors from all over Canada had sent letters of support to the bid committee. In charge of sponsorship, Kelly says sponsors from all over the country were willing to get involved…she only heard of one sponsor who had a discussion with someone else and through that discussion heard that Quebec MP's didn't want to be associated with a celebration of Canada showcasing the Oilsands.
The Mayor has also spoken on the issue – he doesn't want to beat a dead horse, but says he will be writing a letter to the Feds to see what the true reason they withdrew support. Remember – just a few weeks before that billion dollar figure came out, the security estimate – from a Federal expert no less – was just 11 million dollars.
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Edmonton Mill Woods Beaumont MP Mike Lake though, says that billion dollar figure was bang on. He points to other big events in the past that had escalating security costs as reason not to be conservative on a security cost estimate. Lake also pointed out the documents retrieved were "brainstorming" documents between bureaucrats and that is the norm in any decision-making process at the Federal level. Lake says the constituents he has spoken to overwhelmingly support the government's decision and understand this has to be a time of fiscal restraint.
The catch is this – while all that makes sense – throughout the Edmonton Expo 2017 Bid process (we're talking years here) the Federal Government was very supportive. Board members tell me just the month before the Feds withdrew support the committee had a meeting with Heritage Canada and everything was incredibly positive…in other words, they had no indication the Feds' support would ever be withdrawn. From what they tell me, Mandel and committee members realize the bid is dead – but they still don't buy the reason the Feds gave – and they still want to know what really happened. Here's to hoping they get their answers.
What do you think are the reasons behind the Federal Government's withdrawl of support for the Expo Bid? Send me your thoughts vassy.kapelos@globalnews.ca, Twitter: www.twitter.com/VassyKapelos, Facebook: www.facebook.com/VassyKapelos
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