Games debate has business thinking big again

Chamber of Commerce says benefits outweigh any risks, writes Sandip Lalli.

Over the past several months, the city of Calgary has been involved in the highly charged debate about whether to bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As we near the Nov. 13 vote when we get to decide that once and for all, many pundits have opined that we have a city divided.

In our outreach to businesses and through several Olympic-related events we have hosted, we have certainly heard from business leaders who are extremely passionate on both sides of the debate.

However, we don’t choose to look at it as a community divided. We believe truly that regardless of what side people are on this issue, all have an enormous passion and a love for this great city and want what is best for its future. That is why we contend that regardless of the outcome on Nov. 13, this city and its business community will be better off for having this discussion.

It has given us a forum to ask the questions about what we want to be as a city and a business community — and what’s getting in our way.

It is the Calgary Chamber’s purpose to have the business community thinking big again. Our “It’s Grow Time” rally cry is aimed at building a business community that nourishes, powers, and inspires the world with a big, bold vision.

From the beginning of the debate, we saw the Olympics as a platform, an anchor to tie our goal of bolstering deal flow, enhancing the reputation of Canada’s industries, and increasing investment. However, we have full confidence that we will achieve our vision with or without the Games. We do not believe that hosting the Olympics is either the solution for economic and social utopia, nor a race to an economic doomsday.

We have stayed away from trying to quantify a dollar amount that the Games could bring in.

What is quantifiable is the fact that many Calgary businesses have been hit hard by dramatic increases to business property taxes and layered on regulatory costs that have made doing business very difficult.

These business leaders are proudly passionate and united about showcasing Calgary to the world, while at the same time have identified risks to their businesses if the city spends beyond its means.

We hear their concerns. We intend to continue to advocate passionately to bring down non-commercial property tax rates and for all governments to remove the unnecessary regulatory barriers that are hindering the marketplace and preventing deal flow and investment.

Our concern about those burdens is why the Calgary Chamber had remained neutral on the bid until we saw the funding arrangement between governments publicized Oct. 30.

We could not in good conscience come out sooner and suggest business leaders take a leap of faith without understanding those numbers.

What we did see from all levels of government is an honest effort to bring forward a responsible financial bid proposal that we see working for Calgary businesses in the long run.

There are risks, no doubt. However, we believe with a bold vision inspired by the business community we can seize the opportunity to see great benefits that outweigh the risks.

That is why this week we took the position that the Calgary Chamber supports the bid.

We have laid out four business-centric principles that if followed will allow us to get to a great outcome for the Games and our city.

Our full position is at www. calgarychamber.com/Olympics

We believe a bold vision and modest budget for the Olympics will allow us to achieve great things.

“It’s Grow Time.”