Kenney questions true cost of Winter Olympics

The leader of Alberta’s CALGARY official Opposition isn’t ready to jump on the 2026 Calgary Winter Olympics bandwagon.

Jason Kenney, who is hoping to become premier in the provincial election next spring, told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Tuesday he wants to know the real cost to taxpayers of holding the event.

“The province is broke,” Kenney said. “I think we’d all love to have the Olympics, but we’re all asking ourselves can we afford it?”

Calgary, Stockholm, Sweden, and Milan-Cortina, Italy, have received the International Olympic Committee’s approval to bid for the 2026 Winter Games.

But Calgary must first successfully sell the bid to residents ahead of a Nov. 13 plebiscite.

Kenney said he will need more information about costs before he can vote.

“We’re hearing now the provincial share would be at least $1 billion. I share the skepticism of many people about these kinds of initial estimates on major projects like Olympics always being very conservative,” Kenney said.

“I suspect the number will grow and grow and grow from there. I, for one, as a Calgary voter, don’t know how to vote until I see the real numbers.”

Calgary 2026’s draft plan estimates the cost of holding the Games at $5.2 billion, and asks the three levels of government to contribute $3 billion of that.

The plan would be for the remainder to be paid through Games revenue.

The budget includes $1.1 billion in operating and capital contingency funds to mitigate risk, according to the bid committee.

Kenney acknowledges that even if he is successful in being elected premier next year, the decision is likely to have already been made on provincial support.

“By and large we don’t want to be second-guessing decisions that have been made.”

The Alberta government insisted that Calgary hold a plebiscite, which is non-binding, and contributed $2 million to the cost of the vote.

The province also committed to publicly stating 30 days before the plebiscite what it would contribute to the Games. That deadline is Saturday.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said in Edmonton on Tuesday that cost estimates on the Olympic bid will be coming soon.