Canada aiming to keep antidoping headquarters
MONTREAL — Officials from Ottawa and Quebec are getting ready to plead their case for keeping the World AntiDoping Agency headquarters in Montreal for at least another 10 years.
Quebec International Relations Minister Christine StPierre and federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau are part of a delegation heading to Paris to meet with WADA’s executive committee.
The delegation will make a presentation to the executive committee on Sunday.
That group will recommend whether WADA should stay in Montreal beyond its current commitment, ending in 2021.
Garneau told reporters Friday the goal of the trip is to convince the officials meeting in Europe that Montreal’s hosting duties should be extended until at least 2031.
“We’re going to present all the arguments that the agency should remain in Montreal because it’s working extremely well,” he said in Montreal.
He said Canada’s strong reputation in the antidoping world, as well as Montreal’s well-trained personnel and proximity to research universities are all strong arguments for keeping WADA where it is.
Part of the mission will involve countering the arguments of other cities who’d like to host the prestigious agency, he said.
Speaking in Quebec City, St-Pierre said some people have suggested there should be an open bidding process to determine the next location.
She told reporters that some European cities have expressed an interest, including Lausanne, Switzerland, where the International Olympic Committee is based.
Despite the competition, St-Pierre said she’s confident the delegation’s arguments would win over the committee.
“Canada’s reputation is exemplary,” she said. “We’re arriving there very confident and we’re going to show a united front.”
St-Pierre said the offices have been in Montreal since 2001 and employ about 85 people.